"Nursing and Medical Staff were ..."

What I liked

Nursing and Medical Staff were brilliant

What could be improved

Administration and Managerial staff

Anything else?

I was admitted with pancreatitis and it was discovered I needed my gallbladder removed however this could not be done because my pancreas was inflamed. My pancreas was treated and I was told I would be re-admitted urgently within 2 weeks to have my gallbladder removed. I constantly phoned the Admissions Unit to ask when I would be admitted only to be told "Urgent" in Wigan is 10 weeks. I argued this point and was then told "We have 18 weeks to treat you." I again argued this point as I had been admitted through A&E and had already been treated. After calling on a daily basis, due to the pain I was in, I was advised to present to A&E and get admitted that way. I did this, much to the annoyance of the Clinicians, and told them I had been advised by Admissions to go through A&E even though I felt it was an inappropriate way to use the service. I was finally admitted that afternoon. The Clinician I saw was extremely angry that I had been left for 5 weeks as I should have been admitted within 2 weeks. The ASM in Surgery was sent to see me, was absolutely clueless and obviously was sent as the Senior Managers, who I had demanded to see, would not face me.

I would never again attend Wigan Infirmary. the Managers have no clue about patients needs and are too busy enforcing targets across the board, even when they do not apply to all patients. Admissions staff have very little understanding of the 18 week pathway. Strangely enough, the staff member who advised an urgent wait in Wigan was 10 weeks later denied having said that when the Manager asked them, however, on a subsequent call from me, they said "I told you last week it was a 10 week wait!" I asked for their name and passed it on, however I very much doubt anything was done.

The clinical and nursing care was excellent however they are sadly let down by a bunch of overpaid administrators.