"DTC gastroscopy and colonoscopy"

Second visit to DTC in ten years.

Admission procedures good, taken to the changing area and then told to put my belongings in the locker provided.

So far so good... I was then taken onto the ward and sat in the chair in the cubicle next to the bed whilst having a canula inserted. During this procedure my bed was removed by another nurse.

Naively I thought this meant I was soon to to have the procedure done.

The cubicles are made of concrete walls floor to ceiling with a curtain at the end for privacy, I felt somewhat imprisoned as various staff members clattered their way up and down the aisle past my cubicle without a second glance to me waiting nervously.

I did manage to get someone's attention and ask where the bed was, nothing was done.

I had a thumping headache, and was dealing with increasing tension and anxiety.

After an hour and a half I was then taken through to have my procedure done.

I cannot fault the actual procedure itself and the staff were brilliant, thank you. (I did have a throat spray, sedative and entonox so I am sure that this helped.

If they'd have offered a gin and tonic I would have taken that too!! ).

In short, improvements could be made during the admission procedure, especially with communication, although it did seem to cause confusion that I was in the post 'op' area.

So, would highly rate the actual procedure, but think that the admissions procedure needs some attention!!