Share review of The Great Western Hospital

The Great Western Hospital 2024-07-16 Person 4 5 0

I have been seeing consultants at GWH for numerous years now, and have always had a positive experience including having had surgery there 10 years ago. My experience this time though has been very different and quite negative. I was told I needed urgent surgery for a prolapsed disc that was compromising my bladder and bowel nerves. Despite the urgency, my surgery was postponed 3 times before I received it. Post-surgery, I had to chase the hospital every day for 3 weeks before I finally got through to bookings as I was told I would have a 6 week follow up and this did not take place until 10 weeks post-surgery and only because I pressed repeatedly for an appointment. I did this as I was still experiencing a lot of pain after surgery which started when my disc prolapsed. I was made to feel like I was wasting the surgeons time by explaining my symptoms, and told to refer onto orthopaedics to discuss hip/knee pain without this being supported by the spinal surgeon. I found the whole experience quite distressing, and frustrating due to messing my own work around with taking time off to then not have surgery when it was due. I also work for the NHS, so fully appreciate the pressure we are all under, but having surgery postponed 3 times is not acceptable and having to chase for a mandatory appointment I should have had, and been told by the booking clerk it was 'just missed' is also not good enough. I am aware there is a lengthy wait time to see the orthopaedic consultant, and also a very lengthy wait for cortisone injections which I was advised I would need, and I will therefore be looking to go elsewhere for ongoing care as I do not feel the hospital at present can meet my needs as the patient.