Share review of West Suffolk Hospital

West Suffolk Hospital 2013-05-26 Person 3 5 0

The appt system is excellent and I do not think that could be much better. My surgeon has been fantastic and the support of the breast nurse (in my case Sue) also fantastic. My anaesthetist also brilliant. However, once on the ward on the day of my operation, things were not nearly as good. I arrived at 6.50 having been asked to arrive at 7am and was told I needed to go to F4 as F5 did not have the space - that in itself of course is no problem but when I got to Ward F4 I was just shown to my bay and left there (with my husband) having had no explanation of what would happen next. At around 7.40am I was becoming a little concerned - all I wanted was someone to communicate to me anything at all. Some time around 7.50am however my anaesthetist came to see me with his assistant - they were very nice, introducing themselves to me and explaining everything to me clearly. Te anaesthetist could obviously tell I seemed somewhat bemused and he asked me if a nurse had come to talk to me yet and I said that they had not and I was wondering what was happening. He said that my surgeon only had one operation scheduled for this morning and that was me and so I would be going down to have the operation soon. He would ask the nurse to come and get me ready. The nurse was obviously very busy (very nice but very rushed off her feet). She came in and said she needed to get me ready. I said that I hadnt until this point knew what was happening and wished someone could just have said that my operation was first thing because I would have been to the toilet and got into my gown. She said that she was sorry but she had 5 patients to prepare for first op that day. I said well I needed to go to the toilet and she said ok, but to make it quick - that was not making me feel any better. She then helped me get ready and she was a very nice person - its just the total lack of communication up to that point which quite honestly I find unacceptable - how long does it take for someone to come to me and tell me that I will be first and to check I know what is happening? The care from leaving the ward, having my operation, in the recovery room and back to the ward was perfect - I actually remember asking the recovery nurses if I could stay with them because I preferred it there to the ward. Back on the ward things only got worse throughout the night and in the morning. I am too tired now (12 days post op) to go into further detail but I am more than happy to do so if it is of help. I am not making a complaiint - I admire all the medical profession, I work within it as a medical roleplayer and I am privileged to work at a high level in this regard so I have vast experience of what are good communication skills and so I am passionate about this being right for every patient.