"Catheter Ablation / Bed issues"

Some mixed feelings about my Catheter Ablation carried out 8/12/15. Cannot fault the Surgeons, Doctors and Nurses - all without exception were friendly and helpful, nurse on Ward 32 in particular and also the Pharmacy Assistant that insisted on carrying my bag from the discharge lounge to the South exit.. The aftercare on Ward 33 was great and nothing was too much trouble and despite being very busy everything seemed ordered and organised.

However, this was slightly marred by the issues there seems to be with bed shortages. On arrival at Ward 32, which at the time resembled a warehouse more than an tranquil hospital ward I was put into a day room and told to wait, which I did for 30 minutes, then was called into an office and told I was going for my operation in 5 minutes, given a gown and told to undress. They did apologise stating there were no beds available.

With a rushed goodbye to my family in the waiting room I was then wheeled down in a chair to the labs, but put at ease by the nurse who then had to do an INR test down in the operating theatre because there had been no strips on Ward 32.

The operating team were great - no problems there and as stated earlier no problems with Ward 33, except that I was given about 10 minutes to vacate my bed, just before dinner because it was needed.

In fairness, I had been told 1 hour before I was going to be discharged later that day and a nurse did eventually say I could have my dinner, which I gobbled down me very quickly because they were constantly been phoned to be asked if the bed had become available yet and I considered myself to be in the way and a bit of a nuisance.

So there we go, medically and staff wise a great experience and hopefully a successful ablation but marred by some administrative issues.

Would still recommend and hope it was just a bad couple of days bed wise.