"Can not possibly reduce my digust at the..."

What I liked

Nice clean looking hospital.

What could be improved

I was attending the pain management service which was not very far down a corridor but seemed like a marathon for me because of the pain I am in. A nice lady at the reception apologised for there being no-one there to help (I assumed she meant getting me a wheelchair) and that was that. I asked her how far it was and she said not far which was quite right for someone who does not suffer from chronic pain in the back and legs. Perhaps it may have been wise for her to offer me a chair and to wait until she could get someone to help. Even calling the pain management clinic to let them know I had arrived and would be there shortly (hopefully).

Anything else?

At the hospital in Wolverhampton, I had a discectomy l4/l5 right side in December 2008. It did not go exactly as planned and I was left in as much pain as I was in before the operation. I was subsequently referred to the pain clinic there but received no help at all as there was no consultant in attendance as he had left to work in Canada and there was no replacement. I was then referred to the pain clinic in Dudley at the Guest Hospital.

I attended the appointment and was assessed by a very nice, courteous and professional team. The consultant thought I could benefit from further medical help but should go to the Coventry pain clinic as it was closer to where I live.

After many problems and a wait of six months, I was eventually referred to the pain clinic by a physiotherapist whom I saw after being wrongly sent to the physio department instead of the pain management clinic. The consultant I saw in the clinic appeared rather annoyed that he should have "received a rather lavish letter from a physiotherapist" as to why I should have been referred to the pain clinic. He seemed rather annoyed that a physiotherapist should be the one to refer someone to the clinic. The other two members of staff there just looked at the floor.

His assessment of my physical condition consisted of testing my reflexes on both legs by tapping my knees and my ankles, that was it. I was then informed that this hospital did not offer any further operations to help and he would try and put me on the waiting list for an epidural. Thank you and goodbye. No follow up, no further assessment, nothing.

So if you suffer from any kind of chronic pain whereby you need to get some help even if it is only some advice on how to cope with the pain, do not go here!

It seems there is a lot of truth in that old saying "sent to Coventry" because the NHS service here is utterly incompetent.AppointmentsReferralsCourteousPain managementConsultantsPhysiotherapistsFollow upEpiduralSurgeryCleanlinessServiceCorridorsReceptionWheelchairs