"Procedure experience"

I went in for a procedure which I have previously had done at another hospital. Part of the reason I’m ringing to talk about this is because I have anxiety issues. It’s fine, but even though I’ve had the procedure many times, just going to a different venue first of all is going to cause some issues as it is going out of my comfort zone and was already putting pressure on my anxiety.

Reception was very friendly and welcoming. The reception asked me to do covid test and the covid test was faulty. When the person came in, they said I have to do it again but when they were standing there, there was instructions for the test which I followed but there was a certain procedure on the instruction that they said I’m not supposed to do. I said that it was on the instructions so the staff member checked instructions and said well it’s not relating to this particular thing so you don’t need to do that. But the box is there and on the actual instructions it’s there. So I said that’s okay well have to do it again. And the boxes weren’t easy to open. To me either you have someone there to help you do it or you have the correct instructions. The first test was simply a faulty test and then as I was doing the second test the staff member said that I was not doing the right technique. Then I got snappy and said that I must have been using the right technique when I tested positive a few weeks ago. I knew I shouldn’t have said that and I knew I needed to calm down. I got through the second test and the staff member got very snappy at the fact it had been put on the chair and they had to wipe it down. The staff member may have just been having a really bad day and I get that but from my perspective, I need support. That’s part of the role to me. I’m not saying anyone can’t have a bad day so don’t read that into it, but I feel there’s a face you have to put on when in that position.

Then I went in to fill out some paperwork, again by that stage I couldn’t read things clearly, why wasn’t all the paperwork sent out beforehand, then you can read it beforehand and sign it because you can’t take things in when you’re feeling anxious and you have to read things two or three times to understand it. Then I had the same thing with more paperwork with someone else again. Having more and more people didn’t seem logical to me. if I was at home I would have read this carefully. I feel when a medical professional gives you something to sign you don’t necessarily read it, not that they made me feel that way, but I sort of just sign it without being able to properly read it. So just having that paperwork in advance, and giving it back as soon as possible would be quicker too from their perspective I think, that’s just my opinion.

Then we went into the section where it was a mix of recovering people and people who were waiting to go in and because I’ve had experiences at other places, I thought that was a bit strange. I also had to get undressed into a gown which I haven’t previously had to do for my other procedures. So I thought, if you don’t have to get changed, why do I have to do it at one place and not the other? I suppose it was just protocol but it is just surprising. And you do as you’re told in those places, you do what you are told to do without question. I don’t think it would have worried me to go in if I was coming in for the first time, but because I had known of something different, I found it a bit strange. The change room was also actually the toilet which I felt was not appropriate. They then put me into a place where a bed would be with curtains around it, I could have gotten changed in there. I also don’t know why they didn’t just put all your belongings under the bed like they do in other places. That way your belongings stay with you.

But the staff were amazing. From the moment I went into the hall it was excellent. They were so supportive they were so friendly all the way. The anaesthetist and the specialist came and spoke to me and asked me all the questions and that was fine. I went into the room, they put the oxygen mask over face, and again if you are an anxious person, it would make you feel uncomfortable. Why couldn’t that happen during the procedure, not beforehand?

And one of the clinicians didn’t have a table for their equipment, so they just rested their utensils/needle on my groin. It was bad enough when it was put on but when the clinician had to take them off it was even more uncomfortable.

It was only the procedures and processes of the hospital which I thought was really odd, the staff were great, however, there was little flow. I feel you have more faith in places if you have a good experience.