"Kept waiting without apology or explanation, my..."

What I liked

Nothing

What could be improved

I attended the clinic for colposcopy (my third, the two others having been performed in other hospitals). I was kept waiting half an hour and was not offered an explanation or apology for this delay. My main complaint is that there was an un-named, unidentified woman in the room during this highly invasive and personal procedure. The nurse and the consultant I can understand, but why on earth there was some random woman (a trainee I presume?) in the room who was never introduced to me and did not interact with me at all, I do not know. I was scared and anxious at the time and just wanted to get it over with, hence not complaining in person at the time. If I had been asked beforehand, I would not have objected to her being in the room, but the GP/Consultant/Whoever is obliged to seek the patient's permission, even if they are only inspecting the patient's fungus toenail, for example. I am very angry at having not even been asked whether or not I was happy to have this unidentified person in the room. There were also no signs up around the clinic warning that trainees would be present for colposcopies. Also, the consultant did not take adequate care during the procedure to prevent acidic chemicals from staining my clothing. This not only means that the garment in question is now ruined but that I was left walking out of the gynaecology department and through the hospital's crowded waiting room with a large brown stain on my backside, which was upsetting and embarassing. I am not attending this clinic again as I am moving away, but even if I were not I would be seeking to get my treatment in Norwich instead.

Anything else?

My Grandmother had the misfortune to have her hip replaced in this hospital in May 2010 and the standard of care was awful then as well. We visited her every day she was in there but found her sobbing in the corner being ignored on more than one occasion. I have never seen her cry before in 26 years of my life. Bedpans were left unemptied in the corridoors, she was not informed of why she was being given a blood transfusion. Windows were left propped open the whole time, despite inclement weather, and I have read other reports on NHS Choices in relation to this hospital that other elderly pensioners have caught pneumonia and died as a result of this practice. I would avoid this place like the plague and take yourself to one of the Norwich hospitals which are far better than this one. Over a third of patients do not recommend this facility and that speaks for itself.