"I was initally in Cheerful Sparrows ..."

What I liked

I was initally in Cheerful Sparrows for a 'elective' operatiion, in that I chose to have an operation on my stomach to cure reflux and hiatus hernia. Directly after the operation I was unable to swallow even a sip of water without excruciating pain, but it seemed to me that the staff did not take my pain seriously. During the 6 days that I was there, I was unable to eat anything, as I cannot tolerate milk or wheat (the meals do not allow for those particular intolerances). I eventually begged to go home as I thought nothing more could be done at the hospital I could not deal with at home.

Unfortunately I deteriorated at home and suffered blood clots in my lungs, and had to be taken back to hospotal.

In the Clinical Decisions Unit, there was some discussion about whether I should go back to Cheerful Sparrows, or to a ward dealing with my present condition. Unfortuanely I went back to Cheerful Sparrows, where my subsequent condition was not taken into account (by this time I had not eaten properly for 2 weeks) and I was expected to follow the regime of post operative patients - getting out of bed, walking around and using the wrad toilets and washing facilities. THis was an enormous effort for me, but there was absolutely no sympathy or understanding from the nursing staff.

What could be improved

If there had been communication between the various levels of medical officers, there might have been more understanding of my particular situation.

More information about self care once back home may well have obviated the need for my return with the embolisms.

Anything else?

In a phrase - more communication between patients and staff.