"An awful gastroscopy experience"

First gastroscopy was March 2020, following abnormal barium meal. This experience was not too bad. I asked for sedation and it was given. The endoscopist did not speak to me either before or after the procedure. I was given a report of the findings with no explanation, but to see the doctor in 3 weeks. Covid then hit and I didn't receive a phone consultation until the end of April 2020. Due to the findings I was worried about the polyps and asked if they could become malignant. I was told potentially, yes. I was unhappy about this and asked if biopsies had been taken and was told no. I asked if they could be removed and the reply was not until at least 2021.

I had a second gastroscopy November 2020 at my insistence. This was an awful experience. I was taken into a room by a nurse to have BP and paperwork done. Their manner was very off-hand and asked what I was doing wasting time and resources for what they described as trivial findings. I was shocked by this attitude as I have been a nurse for 45 years. I have never spoken to a patient like this in my entire career.

In the endoscopy room I asked for sedation, one of the nurses put a canular in the back of my hand while the other nurse sprayed my throat, then inserted the mouthguard. I felt a severe burning pain in the back of my hand and realised the canular was not in a vein. I tried to tell them what was happening but couldn't because of the mouthguard. the doctor told one of the nurses to give me another lot of sedation, which again did not work. I again tried to tell them what was happening but they obviously thought I was being difficult, the doctor made a comment to the 2 nurses that I suffered from anxiety, which I do not. I was then told to relax and they pushed the tube down my throat. After this nightmare procedure, I was wheeled into the recovery area, never having been spoken to. I was just given a written report with no explanation.

12 months on, I still have not had the biopsy results in my hand. I would NOT recommend a gastroscopy at this hospital.