“My elderly other has been waiting nearly 3 years for urgent heart surgery ( mitral valve regurgitation). Despite getting the go ahead 6 months ago it still hasn't happened. I fear time has now run out as she is weaker day by day.”
“After three months of intense pain and 7 years of trying to resolve the issue, I finally get an unltrasound scan!
That was the highlight.
NO response after TEN days - I'm supposed to be on a '2ww' - two week pathway; it took them two weeks to send the bloody letters!
Then another two weeks to organise the scan.
Now i am waiting again...no one gives a sh*t and clearly these doctors have no training in customer service.
I have tried to email my GP and the hospital - they both deny trying to contact me.
A large part of the issue is the 'private number' rubbish that all these NHS outlets use; no way to know who called, or call them back.
Of course someone who did call let it go to answer machine, but left NO message; how helpful!
You've wasted my time and money, but with NO infomation update.
You did stiff me for £3 parking at the hospital - well done. Perhaps you could put that money towards customer service training for your doctors..”
“Where to start. In 2019 my son had croup. He began hallucinating, I was concerned so called 111. As his breathing was bad they called an ambulance. The paramedics were excellent. They stated he was not getting enough oxygen, hence would need to go to the hospital.
Once we reached there, the brilliant nurse gave him a steroid to open his airways as they were closing up. After about half an hour my child was much better. We saw a doctor who was extremely patronising and stated I should have just given him Calpol and not come to the hospital. It wasn't me who decided this it was the Ambulance due to the fact he was not getting enough oxygen. Don't think Calpol would have fixed swelling airways.
Next, I have a chronic condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia. This affects my heart. When I stand blood stops circulating in the lower part of my body. My heart starts beating fast, I become tachycardic and it is, as you can imagine very tiring amongst other things. Basically my autonomic nervous system doesn't work. I have had an infection around my heart for which I was hospitalised a few years ago in London. This was where it became apparent I had another condition, later to be diagnosed as POTS.
Whenever I get a cold, it affects my heart adversely. In December 2021 I had another infection. My heart was beating very fast even when lying; I felt awful. I stayed like this for a couple of day but as my health deteriorated I became concerned. I phoned 111 they said as it was my heart I should go to the hospital. With the infection I had a bad cough, no biggie, coughs are something I am susceptible to, that was NOT the reason I was attending the hospital. It was for my heart.
One nurse I saw was lovely, however her colleague was very belittling. It's just a cough, "I'm not here for the cough". She ignored this and also ignored the other nurse who was concerned at my tachycardia. She did not come to check my readings even though the nurse asked her to.
They did do a scan of my heart, not that that would show much. When the doctor came yet again I felt belittled as I was told I should not be at the hospital but should have gone to the doctor and got some antibiotics. I stated I was more concerned about my heart. He clearly was not as he sent me off on my way. Ignoring what I said and instead focussing on the cough.
Lastly, I have 3 swollen lymph glands. they have been this way for some time. Firstly on in my cheek developed a few years ago, I didn't pursue it. Then one noticeable one developed on my collarbone. i had a scan and was told it wasn't cancerous (major relief) but that it needed further investigation.
I was sent to rheumatology at Basildon. The Doctor looked at the node on my collarbone and said she wasn't worried. I told her of the one in my cheek and underarm. She said a scan would be done. I told her I also had reynaud's and a condition called eds which is connected to rheumatological issues.
I went for the scan, yes another swollen lymph. So that makes 3, this can mean infection amongst other things.
the hospital messed up my appointments sending me two different dates, then cancelling one and then not phoning at the arranged tie for the other. Today, out of the blue, I received another call, my appointment apparently.
The doctor said she is not worried about any of the nodes and that she is going to discharge me. She said the blood tests showed nothing. I said that I knew the blood tests for that particular condition were only 60 percent accurate. I also stated I had other blood test results that do show I may have lupus or sjogrens. She dismissed this and said she was discharging me. I asked her to write what she had told me in her notes. She asked why would I ask that? Why would I not. Clearly she did not like putting her words into writing which is something more concrete.
My GP said I would probably get fobbed off by the hospital. I just didn't expect it to be so blatant.”
“Unbelievable hospital ward staff don't answer phones . DON or CEO don't reply to emails even when a complaint is sent. Patients who cannot feed themselves left with no help leaving them hungry. A total disgrace”
“My wife has spent nearly 3 hours on the telephone so far this morning trying to speak to a human being concerning her ENT treatment with no success. It was an achievement to obtain the necessary phone numbers , however no one answered the phones, and you could not leave a message. She did manage to leave a message on one number but no response as yet. Rubbish service”
“Was told that the NHS isn't India. Just because I'm begging for help doesn't mean I'll get it. Very unprofessional. Mr Chicken is the only person who actually saves Basildon Hospital, otherwise it is a dive as a whole.”
“I give birth ( natural) seven weeks ago at Basildon Hospital. It was the worst experience ever.Starting with reception and finally with the midwives.I'm sorry to say that they are not professional prepared to take care of newborn babies and mothers. Even after seven weeks I'm not recovered but thanks God my baby is well at this moment. Maybe I had bad luck, because I know there are some good doctors and midwives but I will avoid the hospital in the future.”
