"I found the area I was treated ..."

What I liked

I found the area I was treated in and the ward to be clean and staff to be generally friendly.

What could be improved

Communication and care. Went in for a minor hernia operation on day surgery. Consultant breazed in late laughing and joking with staff that they had been up until late! Not very re-assuring. Woke up in resus in agony. Only told that it had been a difficult op, no explanation as to why. Detained overnight due to the pain, still no explanation. Barely able to move and when I finally managed to get up to go to toilet could'nt get back into bed due to pain. Waited in corridor for nurse/auxilliary. When they finally acknowledged me was made to feel a nuisance ie "You've got to expect some pain you know" and "I can't help you I've got a bad back".

No visit from consultant following day to explain what had happened and discharged by a staff nurse, again with no explanation and simply told to go to local surgery in ten days for staples removing. Despite one of the potential complications being infection, no anti-biotics given and yes, I developed an infection which resulted in the wound bursting open and, ultimately the surgery has failed so I'm now on waiting list for further, more complex surgery. Wish I'd never had it done.

Anything else?

I work in the public service sector myself so I know how hard it can be please everyone, and I fully understand that there are no guarantees with any surgery. However, most of my issues could have been resolved by simple communication and, had I been given anti-biotics, the surgery may have succeeded.