"Hospital stay - communication"

I came in a few days ago by ambulance with severe 10/10 stomach pain and was admitted to the Cooinda ward.

My experience so far is there is a lack of communication to me as a patient about test results and next steps.

Day 1 - I had an ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) at about mid-morning. I was not told anything or seen by a Dr after the procedure to inform me of the results.

Day 2 - When I asked if there was a reason I didn't receive any breakfast I was told I was nil by mouth. I asked why and the nurse said as I had more tests being done this day. No one had informed me of more tests or that I was nil by mouth since midnight.

During the Dr's rounds sometime later that morning I was told about the tests being done on this day.

After the test at approx. mid-afternoon, I enquired if I could eat and the nurse informed me that I was not cleared by the Drs to eat anything. During this day I had about 300ml of water only and was not hooked back up to intravenous fluids which resulted in a headache by the end of the day. At this point, the nurse asked the night Dr who allowed me to have dinner. At this point, I was informed that I was nil by mouth from midnight again as I was having more tests the next day. 

Again I was not provided any information about this day's test results.

Day 3 - the Dr just came for me to consent to the test that day. I believe they didn't know what time they are being done. I'm nil by mouth again with no fluids hooked up. I still have a headache. I believe they weren't aware of the results the day before.

I don't think I've seen the same Dr twice. There does not appear to be one Dr overseeing me who knows the full story and who I can talk to or ask questions of. I feel that each Dr I've seen isn't aware of other tests - they can only look at what's on my file, which they only do when I ask them.

I understand investigation may require Drs of differing specialties but I believe there needs to be a keyworker who is across the case who keeps a patient informed and who a patient can talk to.

This experience has left me frustrated and concerned as I don't know what is causing my pain and what the plan is. At this point, I'm very worried I'll be sent home in pain with no resolution or plan which may be in part due to a lack of coordination.