"Operation admin failure at Pinderfields Hospital"

I am very upset with my experience at Pinderfields Hospital today.

I suffered a fracture to my radius following a fall in February and went straight to A & E at Dewsbury Hospital. I had excellent care and had no complaints.

My x rays were reviewed at Pinderfields while I was at Dewsbury, and an appointment made at the orthopedics dept at Pinderfields the following day.

I spent the whole of the next day at Pinderfields being seen in the orthopaedics department and being told I needed surgery, having X rays, blood tests and an ECG. I also was swabbed for MRSA and sent home with a 'wash pack' to await a phone call for surgery. I spent a long time going through my complex medical history with the doctor which included my having a kidney transplant in 2006.

I was telephoned 2 days later to invite me to attend at 7:30am at gate 40 for my surgery that week. The next day I was telephoned to say that I was not to attend on Friday as the list was long and I may not be seen. I was asked to attend gate 37 on Saturday at 7.30am, fasted from midnight the previous night.

I arrived at gate 37 at 7:25am and was invited to wait in a chair on a the ward with the other patients. After 2 hours I was clerked in by the ward clerk and

another set of MRSA swabs taken. I informed the ward clerk that this had already been done on Tuesday but was told they needed to be repeated because I had been home.

I changed into my theatre gown and surgical stockings and took my seat back on the ward. At 12:30pm I was taken to another ward with a bed to wait to be called to theatre. I had at this point been without food or liquids for over 12 hours which was causing me concern as it is very important I do not become dehydrated due to my kidney transplant.

Lunch was served on the ward while I was there and it was pointed out by the nurses that I was fasting. I was reassured by this as I felt that it was remembered that I was there. When the nurse came round a short while later I asked her when I was to be taken down to theatre as I had now been without fluids for nearly 16 hours and I was concerned about my transplant, she said she would investigate for me.

At 3 pm the nurse came to my bed and apologised, she said that she did not know how it had happened but I had not actually been put on a theatre list for that day. I was invited to stay in for the night with the chance that I could have my surgery the next day. I told her that it was my daughter's birthday on Monday and I had arranged to take her out for a meal, I really didn't want to miss this. I was told the doctor would come to speak to me.

Half an hour later the nurse came back to say I had provisionally been put second on the list on Monday. At this point I became very upset, I feel totally let down and disregarded by the hospital. I had on two occasions prepared myself mentally for surgery only for it to be cancelled, the second time actually waiting on the ward, fasted all day. I had additional concerns regarding my kidney transplant which I feel was totally ignored.

I am upset that the doctor did not come to see me personally to apologise, when I asked if I could be first on the list next time due to my transplant I was told no it wasn't possible they couldn't guarantee it.

I have worked for the NHS all of my working life and regularly work at the Boothroyd Centre at Dewsbury Hospital. In my experience the high tech front that Pinderfields puts up with the impressive waiting area is just that... a front. The treatment seems absolutely no better if not worse.

I am sitting at home now awaiting another phone call to invite me for surgery, hoping that I can have some reassurance that this will be investigated thoroughly and nobody else suffers the emotional stress that I have today.