East Surrey Hospital 2014-09-28 Person 5 5 0

I was seen twice in A&E with acute Cholecystitis, and was admitted on the second occasion to Brockham Ward. The staff were all very helpful and sympathetic, which made my stay bearable. The ward was clean and well managed. I do however have a grievance. I was discharged after 4 days - the doctors came around and told me I could go home. It was fairly early in the morning, and almost as soon as the doctors left I was told that I would be taken down to the discharge lounge. After a few minutes a porter arrived and I was whisked off - without being able to have a shower or brush my teeth. I arrived at the discharge lounge at about 10am and was given a seat and some water. My friend came to take me home at 1pm and I finally left at 3.30pm. I had to wait for five and a half hours for medication. The pharmacist came to see me after four hours and it was very apparent that she was only just dealing with my prescription - it would appear that she was on her own. ( I should add that this happened on a weekday and not the weekend) I have to say that I was at my wits end - I just wanted to get home and freshen up - not only that but my friend had an unnecessarily long wait to take me home. As a retired NHS professional I do wonder whether the long wait for drugs is acceptable. Surely if a discharge is expected TTO's can be ordered the night before and kept on the ward - that's what used to happen when I was a ward sister. There has to be a better way of dispensing discharge medicines, and shortening the stay in the lounge. I was not the only patient who suffered such a long wait - there were quite a few of us. This is not acceptable.