On admission to day care ward, I was asked if I was nervous. I was in for cancer surgery and felt it was a tackless question. Then told the first part of my surgery had not been booked in and I was left to wait until it could be done. Arrived in theatre 2 hours after my allotted time and was rushed onto the table and loss consciousness with no warning, I was not aware the GP giving me the anaesthetic was at my side. They then gave me a drug that would interact with 2 medications I was on and I believe they were aware I was taking. It left me in a delirium, hallucinating, severe anxiety, distorted vision and I went in and out of a black hole which was terrifying. It also caused severe bleeding and I was left with permanent problems from it. Was kept in overnight and was in severe pain which I told the staff about each time I could communicate with them. I was given tablets but they did not help the pain. Was, I felt, shouted at and told I could not possibly be in pain as I’d been given so much analgesia. I heard my voice say out of the black pit that it was nerve pain and told them what medication to give me.
The night nurse, when handing over in the morning was laughing as they said I’d been “loopy” all night when in fact I had felt I was going mad. I was prescribed a medication to take home and fortunately, my mind was slowly clearing and I was able to tell them I could not tolerate it as I was allergic to Sulfa drugs. Was, I felt again, shouted at for this by the nurse. There were other instances where I was spoken to rudely and was finally told very loudly to get out of bed, get dressed and go home. As I left the ward the ward clark shouted down the corridors to get back into the ward and get into bed. I tried to explain but they cut me off by shouting it again. A nurse intervened saying I was bed 16 and bed 15 was staying in. I realised we were not people but bed numbers. Shortly after I arrived home I was phoned and told I was to attend the hand clinic for a follow up of my surgery. When I said I had not had hand surgery I felt the hospital caller laughed and said they'd mixed up the patients. This was the 3rd mix up I’d had in 3 hours. I had a number of wrong appointment times given to me post-op which was very distressing as I had to sort them out.
I complained to the hospital and was told by a senior management person they had spoken to the theatre and ward head nurse. I was encouraged to make the complaints by doctors and paramedical staff as they received many complaints but I believe nothing was ever done about it.
I have been left with a horror of ever going back to a hospital that treats patients like myself so badly and trusting the doctors attending me know what they are doing. I shall travel to Perth in future for any elective reason but still live in fear that circumstances may happen when I have no option. It has left me with a life long anxiety, first and last time I shall go into a public hospital. I was offered no apology for my treatment or offer of mental health care to help with my terror. I have paid for that myself as I was left so scared.
"Total lack of professional care and communication"
About: Albany Health Campus / Surgical Ward Albany Health Campus Surgical Ward Albany 6330
Posted by startn78 (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Juan Clark
See more responses from Juan Clark