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lack of support from bowel disease nurse

Posted By sadforNHS

"lack of support from bowel disease nurse"

About: Royal Alexandra Hospital / General Surgery (wards 19, 20, 24, 26 &29)

(as the patient),

I was told that I had inflammatory bowel disease after I was admitted to the Royal Alexandra hospital in Paisley. Never felt so scared in my life. I had been bleeding for months and when I was admitted got told that a bowel disease nurse would see me within 24 hours. It took almost five days. I got told I had ulcerative colitis and anything I needed to know was on the internet.

He wasn't interested or at all caring. At a time when you need help why don't the professionals recognise the need to discuss your condition and what might happen next?

Long story short, I had my bowel removed and have a permanent bag. When the nurse returned he told me I was cured and he doesn't need to see me again. Some cure. Just glad I never have to deal with that nurse again.

What a terrible state the NHS is in when you employ such an uncaring attitude when deal with vulnerable people facing a life changing operation. Hope that no one else goes through what I did. I've never felt so awful in my life and when I needed support my specialist nurse gave none.

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Responses

Response from Lorna Fairlie, Patient Experience, Public Involvement Project Manager, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 8 years ago
Lorna Fairlie
Patient Experience, Public Involvement Project Manager,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

I work in a small team in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which seeks to involve patients and carers in the work of the NHS. The biggest part of my role is in managing feedback projects across the Board area, one of which is Patient Opinion. It is my job to give our patients and carers the opportunity to give us feedback, and to make sure that this is passed to the right people to help us improve the services we provide.

Submitted on 20/05/2015 at 14:32
Published on Care Opinion at 15:58

I was really upset to read of your experience at such a difficult time in your life - you are right to say that this was a time when you needed support most and I am sorry that this was not given to you.

I know that there is very little that can be done now to change your personal experience, however I will pass your comments on to the service who treated you. Your story should be a reminder to all staff of the difference they can make to someone who is going through a difficult and scary time in their lives and will hopefully ensure that no other patients have the same experience.

You may already be aware, but there are a number of organisations and support groups which may be of some help to you at this current stage in your care. The Colostomy Association is one of these organisations, which has a website with lots of information, as well as a 24 hour helpline and details of local support groups. Their website is http://www.colostomyassociation.org.uk/index.php and I hope that this may be of use to you, or anyone else who may be reading this who has gone through something similar.

If there are any further specific details you would like to share with me about the care that you had, please email me directly on lorna.gray@ggc.scot.nhs.uk, and once again, I am very sorry to read about your experience.

With best wishes,

Lorna

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