Patient Feedback

Overall very good, apart from the following . They have a new Matron/Sister in charge who has taken it upon herself to change the BMI from what i believe was 45 down to 40. This was not communicated to me until after a problem arose after the Pre Assessment. At the Pre Assessment, they did not mention my BMI , they did not weigh me or measure my height, they asked me what my weight and height was. I thought i was 5 foot 8 but i am actually 5 foot 9. I did not weigh as much as i thought . Turns out my BMI was well below the 40 limit. I was asked to take an ECG at the Pre Assessment, didnt have one on my previous Knee Replacement. A problem was identified by the Anaesthetist , which reguired an ECO Cardiogram. A young lady from the Winfield called me to say my Operation could not go ahead as i had a problem with my Heart. I asked questions, but she was unable to answer these as she did not have the required knowledge. I find this unaceptable, surely someone who had some Medical Knowledge should have called me, knowing i would be asking questions. I was in tears when i put the phone down. I asked the Winfield not to cancel my Operation until i had seen a Cardiologist, which i did the next day. I had a consultation with Mr Ubaid who advised me my Operation could go ahead, and prescribed me some Medication. He sent me an email with his report attached, which i sent to the Winfield. I was then informed my Operation had been cancelled anyway, without consulting me about it. Then came the, you could not have the Operation anyay as your BMI is too high, seriously, you bring that up this far down the line. I had already measured myself and weighed to see what my BMI was, and i was well below the required limit of 40. I was told i would have to wait 3 months before i could try and get my Operation done. I qiestioned this, and asked that i come in and they weigh and measure me, which they should have done at the Pre Assessment. This was organised for ther following week. My Operation was then Planned in, 3 Weeks after i should have had it done . My Operation has been done and the care i received from Consultant, his Theatre Team, the Ward Staff and Phyisios has been superb. The communicating of Information to the Patient Pre Operation must improve. I was left thinking i might die after i was told i had something wrong with my Heart. Having the person with the correct medical knowledge to call me to tell me there was a problem with my ECG would have made things a lot less stressful. The BMI Limits should be commuicated to the Patient at the Pre Assessment, or maybe before, and you should make sure the Team Weigh and Measure everyone to make sure no one has to go through the stressful time i had to go through. Once i eventually got into the Hospital for my Operation, everything went smoothly, but i am not happy with the way certain things were communicated to me by staff who had no skills and knowledge to be able to answer the questions you must have known i needed to ask. Not weighing and Measuring me was a mistake, i gave you the information which i thought was correct, but wasnt, that was my fault, but you should not believe what the patient tells you , you should weigh and measure the patient. I have been to the Winfield a few times and the overall experience has been very good, but not this time. Your Pre Assessment process and staff knowledge needs to be looked at. If a different person who had some medical knowledge of the problem found on my ECG would have called me , they could have put my mind at rest and reassured me. The poor lady couldnt answer my questions and didnt really know what to say to me, she should not have been put in that position in the first place. And then to bring up the BMI limit change at such a late stage was just rubbing salt in my wounds, especially when i wasnt weighed or measured. I hope you can understand my frustration. Please feel free to contact me about this matter via email or letter, you have both on file. Unfortunately this experience would make me consider going to a different Private Healthcare Facillity if i needed anything doing in the future. I have Physio on April 26th at 12pm at the Winfield if any Senior member of the Management Team would like to have a talk with me about this matter. As i said earlier in this review, once i got into the Hospital, everthing went smoothly, as normal, it is only what happened from the Pre Assesment that i am not happy about. Mr Gleeson and his Team, and the Ward Staff and Phyios were fantastic as always.