"Getting out of there!"

What I liked

Getting out of there!

What could be improved

where to start. I was sent to the General Hospital as an emergency by my GP. Upon arrival at the ward they denied any knowledge of having spoken to my GP. I was in the room when call was made so know it was. Eventually and in great pain I was put into a room and left for an hour with no idea what was happening or any buzzer for help should I have needed it. A janitor came in to empty a bin and left the door open, I was then at least able to ask passers by for help. Eventually some one did come to get my details. They failed to put red armbands on to alert to my allergies and I had to insist the white ones were removed. In the 3 days before I was eventually operated on I was moved 3 times. My Abscess burst whilst waiting and I was left to lie in it all night until change of shift took pity on me. I had no water or food as was awaiting surgery in all this time. At some point I was put on a drip but pain killers were often forgotten and the staff unthinking and often ignored not only myself but also other patients. On Friday @ 2.30am surgeon came and got me himself, as they had "lost" me and I was told I could go only 5 hours after the op. I live alone and no one asked if I would be OK or how I would get home. I was just told to contact my local walk in and GP to have dressings changed. One ward nurse did try to sort out my visit to nurse on the Monday. No one said I would need to make appointment with walk in for dressing change, luckily a neighbour knew I would have to. I thought the general care level was very poor. There were 3 very nice members of staff I encountered but they were very over worked whilst others just "milled" around. Although I never ate whilst on the wards I can see how the meals can go astray as there are so many patients being moved about for no reason or at least this is never conveyed to them. My Mother died in the general Hospital 2 years ago and I think that the general care has deteriorated a lot in this time.

Anything else?

Basically make the staff aware that although some patients can be annoying they are usually this way as they are frightened and in a strange non familiar surroundings and often in pain. Patients are people to and deserve to be treated as such. Pets get better treatment at the vets.Bring back the Ward Sister as they used to be.