louise dunne

Jun 13, 2024

Spinal surgery patient

Went in for spinal surgery in may, was left sitting in a chair for over 6 hours in theatre gown in a public area waiting to go to theatre, was in alot of pain by the time in was called. To top it off the toilet I had to use had no seat on it. Was not an hour out of theatre and still groggy and the nurse was pulling me out of bed to walk to the toilet, my doctor came in and ordered them put me straight back down immediately. I could stay conscious let alone stand or use the loo. Requested an extra pillow for my back, no can't have one. I requested a sick bowl as nauseous after anaesthetic, I was given one for 5 minutes then removed, I asked for it back and the nurse never returned, at which point I got sick everywhere, luckily the lovely porter was wheeling a trolley past and assisted me and helped clean me up. Ward was dirty, was given socks to wear as they didn't like you to wear your own slippers in case of a fall. I was in for a week and my socks were black from the dirty floor, only given 1 pair. Saw cleaners once who were in and out in less than 5 minutes. Toilet and shower were filthy the whole weekend. Public hospitals much cleaner. Nurses disappeared from 8pm, no checks until the next morning at 7am, my nurse gave me my 2 doses of pain tablets and told me to wake myself up at midnight and 4am to take them. God forbid anything happen during the night as no one was checking. No natural light or airflow in the ward, so hot you actually felt sick, they had a fan in the corner that was filthy with dust. The only thing I give credit for is my excellent spinal surgeon, it's a pity he only works out of here as I would definitely go elsewhere. Told not to lift anything heavier than a jug of water, yet the discharge nurse was more than happy to let me walk out carrying my hospital bag. Shocked at the standards given its a private hospital. Quick enough to want payment, I had to pay my insurance excess 2 days before my surgery, interesting how this is the 1 area they are very efficient on. Everytime I spoke to someone it was oh that's an extra charge, had I known I'd be sitting in a chair so long I'd be telling my insurer not to pay the bed charges.