"My MS was not understood by staff"

I was admitted to Russells Hall Hospital in September with a Urinary tract infection. I am unfortunate enough to suffer from ms too, a disease I was soon to find out, was neither understood or of any interest to the staff.

Two girls from Occupational therapy told me they knew little about ms and one nurse even asked me what it was. Then after I had tried to explain she shrugged her shoulders and told me it was 'all in my mind'.

it soon became apparent that no-one was going to let me out of bed and help me to get back on my feet and walk again, which I could do up until Sept. With ms, you need to keep your muscles as active as possible - 'use it or lose it' they always say - but no-one would listen to my pleas. After a couple of days I was told my notes had instructions not to let me out of bed.

I had a reaction to the antibiotics given to me, resulting in very bad diarrhea. Every time I buzzed for a nurse for a bedpan I was left waiting until it was too late. Even worse, at mealtimes as you aren’t allowed to 'go' anyway........... I had to be cleaned up and have the sheets changed 4/5 times a day. Not once was I ever properly washed, and on one occasion was even left lying in a mess for 1.1/2hrs.

I have never felt so dirty and miserable in my life. I couldn’t even talk to the outside world as there is no hospital phone and no mobile reception in my ward.

Due to the filth, I spent several days in isolation with suspected c.diff.

I was sent home after 3 weeks and I feel that thanks to Russells Hall Hospital I am now wheelchair bound

Based on my experience, I will die rather than ever go through that again.