"Given a choice, I would never choose Dewsbury..."

I had gynaecology surgery at Dewsbury and as yet I cannot comment on the outcome. However, my experience of the stay in Dewsbury was less than satisfying.

I was booked for surgery at 8.30 so had to arrive by 7am. I had to wait with several other patients in an empty ward on a hard plastic chair while the staff went through the admissions procedure. I was prepped, put in a how and stockings, bloods taken etc but I then had to sit in that room in the gown until gone 2.30pm! Obviously I was given no refreshment as I was waiting for surgery but to be sat on a hard seat in a hospital gown with other patients and their relatives for almost 8 hours was very Inc, draining and undignified!

Following quick surgery, I had to stay in recovery until about 7pm as there was no bed on a ward for me! I was under the impression that I was an inconvenience to the recovery staff as they had done their part and I was just taking up valuable space.

Once I was placed on a ward I discovered that the bathroom was dirty with a stained and soiled toilet seat and sanitary litter and tissues on the floor that wasn't cleaned up during my stay. When the evening staff did the drugs round my notes were not present so the nurse left the bay, leaving the cabinet open and unattended, while they found my notes. I was given the medication which I took but once I'd swallowed the tablets the nurse then checked my id. This should have been done prior to administering the drugs for safety. Luckily I had been given the correct meds.

I was told prior to my operation that I would be in hospital for up to 3 days. However, a registrar who did the morning rounds the next morning told me I could go home that day if everything went well (they needed the bed!). My blood pressure was low all day and my urine measurements and bladder scan were not what was expected. When the surgeon visited in the late afternoon they said that I needed to stay until the measurements were at the required level and this was put on my notes. My urine was not measured after the surgeons visit, my bladder was not scanned and my blood pressure was not checked! When I queried it I was told that I was going home so it was not required. The staff completely I disregarded the surgeon's instructions!

As I was so appalled by my stay so far, I did not argue and was relieved to go home that evening!