"Emergency admission and hospital stay"

I arrived at the Emergency Department at mid-afternoon on the advice of my GP. It was fairly busy in my opinion. I did complain to the reception after 1.5 hours as I believe other people were being seen ahead of me and was told there are three different sections in the department and I was next in my section. Another 1.5 hours later, I was seen by a very efficient Irish doctor who took me into a side room, took a test for Covid infection, set up an IV, took my bloods, ordered a CT scan and arranged for the Gastroenterologist to examine me at some time. I remained in the side room pending these events. We discussed admission. The doctor wanted to admit me to an Elderly ward and was waiting for a side room because of the infection risk. I told her in the discussion I did not wish to be treated as an elderly/geriatric patient, rather a patient with a gastrointestinal infection. We discussed this politely. Eventually, having had the CT scan and seen the Gastroenterologist another senior doctor came and said she had found me a bed in the Isolation Unit which was fine.

During my stay in the Emergency Dept at 1AM, the cleaners asked me to move to another side room so they could clean the one I occupied. I didn't wish to appear difficult so I obliged although I thought it was a strange request.

My stay in the Isolation Ward was good, the nurses were friendly and the Consultant was excellent. One RN on night duty forgot to ask the ward doctor to prescribe me night sedation. I asked them in the morning what happened but they seemed evasive. Isolation Ward was a bit lonely - understandably no visitors. I did miss the personal touches from the nursing staff eg asking if I needed more blankets, or the bed changing etc. Hopefully, this is more apparent in the general wards. The care was very good but one needs to be patient but also express any fear politely.

On discharge, I received a copy of the discharge letter and TTAs. I was transported in a wheelchair by the Porter to the hospital entrance where I was met by my spouse on discharge.

Thank you Prince of Wales Hospital.