"It took a while to be taken seriously in Harrogate"

My partner first of all visited the out of hours GP at Harrogate Hospital after numerous visits to the doctor over tummy upset and groin pains.

He went to hospital after he became extremely constipated and throwing up. He was admitted to the Littondale ward and we thought at last something was going to be resolved. Ater being in the day room for what seemed like hours, he was finally examined and told that it was probably irritable bowel.

He was given senakot and sent home. Everything he ate or drank made him sick. He went back to the docs and was given suppositories, which made no difference. Then he went back to the hospital and they took xrays.

My partner could hear the staff laughing and one person said he had something the size of a baby's head to pass. He was to stay overnight and was in great pain and discomfort.

In the morning he asked for some paracetamol and eventually they came with some in the afternoon. He was given about another 3 enemas which did very little. After going to the loo he said it was splattered in blood. Eventually someone decided to do a scan.

He is still in hospital now after having an operation which resulted in having some of his intestine taken, part of his bladder and his appendix. They think it could be a tumour but it has gone off for testing. He has to have a colostomy bag, we don't know if that's permamant yet or not.

Before the op he was just an inconvenience but after care has been brilliant and he's getting better everyday. All from what they thought was constipation.