"Communication goes a long way"

I was in the cath lab on 3 separate occasions. All staff were really friendly, but I have a few issues that if addressed, will help other patients. I think these issues are due to it all being routine to the nurses but they forget it is not to the patients.

First visit was for an angiogram, pressure band was released and all dressings were left on the bed and wound not covered. An hour later nurse threw medication on my bed and left. I had to ask if that meant I was to go home and if so, could I have a dressing on my arm.

2nd visit, overnight stay. My monitor kept alarming and keeping me and other patients awake yet no nurse came near. Obviously my low heart rate was not a concern to the nurses, but a bit of reassurance would have helped me, along with adjusting the monitor setting to allow us to sleep. In the morning I struggled to get washed, while in pain a with leads and cannula still attached to me, only for these to be removed afterwards. Maybe these could be removed before washing to make things easier. Came out of bathroom to find my bed stripped and my locker and a chair moved to another cubicle. Again, I had no idea I was going home so soon so some communication would have been reassuring.

3rd visit. Another overnight stay. Similar to previous overnight stay, but this time I was asked if I had called someone to collect me at 6:20 in the morning while I was barely awake. This time I was not thrown by my bed being stripped while I was in the bathroom but I was by being ushered to the waiting area in the corridor at the same time as asking for the name of my next of kin and contact details. I also had to ask for cannula to be removed.

It is frightening being in hospital and communication goes a long way. As I said, I think most of the issues I have highlighted are not due to anything else other than it all being routine for the nurses they forget to update the patients on what to expect.