Derriford Hospital — Local services in Plymouth

YOU SHOULD READ THIS, BEFORE YOU CONSIDER HAVING ANY TREATMENT AT THIS HOSPITAL! I have had the worst nightmare of my life at Derriford hospital, and they have ruined my life. Be warned, I sadly had a neurological operation in January 2012, to remove a nodule which they thought was pressing on my nerve, causing pain in the dorsal part of my right foot. The neurosurgeon was confident that he could make some improvement to this. Now I have lost most of the feeling to the total right hand side of my right foot, I have pains up and down my leg. I have to deal with constant pain, weakness, numbness, hot and cold feelings, spiky stabbing sensations, poor control, and coordination.

This hospital is totally irresponsible, the appointments prior to the operation were chaotic, there was never enough time to discuss things property. The operation was done late on a Thursday afternoon, and I am convinced that it was rushed, after being commenced to late in the day. After the operation, I had a tremendous amount of trauma in my foot, I knew then that something had gone badly wrong. But the senior on duty, was not interested in what I was telling her, all she was interested in was sending me home. Ever since then Derriford have totally ignored me and the situation, despite writing and emailing the consultant, he just see fit to ignore me.

This neurosurgeon has broken most of his licence conditions, that he is expected to observe by the General Medical Council, and yet, still the Chief executive is prepared to let him practice on other patients. I have written to the Chief executive as well, and have been totally ignored. I have suggested scans, recommended by other respected consultants, and this has been totally ignored as well, after asking for support to get these scans done.

Derriford hospital has destroyed the nerve functionality to my right foot and my right leg, and have left me as a disabled person. There was no after care what's so ever, they could not get me out of the hospital fast enough. I was briefly seen by a Physiotherapist, and given a piece of paper with six exercises on it, and told to go home. That was the total extent of Derrifords after care.

I have spent the last two years trying to deal with the pain, and the loss of functionality, and feeling of my right foot. My surgeon was a very arrogant man, his key phrase was, well it is you that will have to live with it. It was almost like he knew exactly what was going to happen. I did ask him for the percentage likely hood of a bad result, but he just sat in his chair, and ignored my question.

Derriford hospital has destroyed my quality of life, I have spent hundreds of hours contacting all the departments within the NHS, to try and get this mess rectified, if that is even possible now. But please be advised that you will not find any support, or concern from most departments, you will quickly learn, that you are basically out there on your own.

I would never recommend this hospital to anyone, there attitude to people and patients is appalling. I have heard friends tell me other stories, that nurses have been known to shout at elderly patients. Honestly, this hospital is a disgrace to the NHS. I advise all of you to keep well away, and consider your options very carefully, before accepting any treatment at Derriford.

I will probably never get the damage they have done corrected, and so they have left me scarred for life. Biggest regret of my life, ever walking through Derriford hospital doors.

I hope this will save someone else the same...

From the Time I was Booked in until Time I was Discharged I was taken through every Process with the Upmost Respect, Not to Mention the Friendliness of all Staff from Fal To Postbridge. Unfortunately my Op was later than Planned but was well informed from numerous Staff so I just Relaxed and waited Patiently. These Things Can’t Be helped and the Staff do their Best to Accomadate everyone. There’s only so much One can Actually do when there’s a Bed Shortage. Anyway I fell asleep and No Sooner I woke up I was Taken to The Theatre. Excellent Theatre Staff as Always as I’m Not New to DERRIFORD Theatres. A Different Anaesthetist today as I’ve had the Same one a Couple of Times. But again another Nice efficient Anaesthetist ( Sorry Can’t Remember her Name ) Blame my Age Lol! Anyway Then as Onto POSTBRIDGE for Recovery & the Staff again we’re so Accomadating and Attentive. Someone was always there to ask if I was or in Pain or if just anything they could do. Even to Drinks, Sandwiches & Biscuits. I know that’s always offered but I’m still Grateful. I wasn’t rushed at all and I was able to be Fully Rested before I could Leave. This was a Smaller Op compared to others I’ve had Plus it was Daycase and I admit I’ve been Rushed in the Past when Not been at all Ready. However Like I said Earlier I do unsterstand that’s Not down to the Staff on Wards. But there are so many Patients going through each Day that Beds are Nearly Always an Issue. Obviously as a Patient I’d Love that to Improve as I’m Sure many Patients out there Naturally do also and I’m Sure the Staff feel Exactly the Same and It must be Frustrating they can’t themselves Change and It’s Also A Shame for Patients whom Obviously for Lots Of Reasons delays Cause Distress. And I get that but I also Get how Frustrated the Staff get too. All I know is My experience today was Very Chilled in Recovery and the Whole Day in General. Maybe it was that my Op was later in Day and in Past I’ve never had a Later Op. I want to Thank KAREN ( HCA) on POSTBRIDGE and NURSE with Short Blond Hair ( Sorry did Not get her Name ) However they Both Cared for me. Not only Effiently But morso with Friendliness and had Caring Personalities and nothing was too much Trouble. They allowed me to Rest until Ready which normally I’m not used to as I explained and that’s Not a Complaint but Obviously depends on How many in & Out each Day. Honestly Speaking though everyone should be Fully Recovered before they Leave Hospital. As I said I’ve had Major Ops and felt Rushed at Times. Re-cooperation Can’t Really be Rushed as we are all different and all Respond Differently. As an Example: This Op I had Today I’ve had Before and is Normally Straightforward for My Recovery But I’m a Bit Older and Other have Things going on and felt quite unwell as appose to last time it was Done. I’m Sore and Extremely Washed out but as I stated I’ve had Many Ops and a Couple Close together. So takes its Toll somewhere. I know DERRIFORD ain’t the only Hospital Struggling for Beds. I visit another Hospital in London & again they have Same Issues. My Experience in Whole from DERRIFORD has Pleased with Care & Kindness I...

My daughter went in last Sunday with a painful cyst that was making it difficult to walk, they poked it a bit, gave her anti biotics and sent her away. On the Monday she returned as the cyst had grown, it was very difficult to walk and she was in a lot of pain. They did look at it after several hours, a doctor even took a knife to it but just slashed it a few times then gave up. On Tuesday they told her several times that a surgeon would operate on it, but this never happened, someone who came in six hours after my daughter , and clearly not in any discomfort, was seen to and released while my daughter waited on a gurney in the waiting room, she had no pillow and it took many hours before she got a blanket. She was told not to eat or drink for 6 hours before surgery, however it was about 27 hours before they let her have any food as they told her yet again that another five emergency cases had come in and the surgeons had to prioritise them. I was wondering if it was the same five surgeons which seemed to spend most of their time drinking tea and chatting, then a few minutes after the latest ‘emergency cases’ came in, they went home. My daughter was told her boyfriend who was aiding her had to go, she protested and was told by a very rude nurse that she wouldn’t be seen today and had to leave. She was dosed up on morphine, her boyfriend didn’t have a driving licence, she was about 15 miles from home and couldn’t walk. I had to arrange for her car to be collected and took her to Torbay Hospital where hopefully she will get the treatment she’s paid her national insurance for. Between Sunday and Wednesday she’s been lied to, starved and handled roughly, a knife wielding doctor made it impossible for her to walk even a short distance, the doctors were absent, the surgeons drunk tea and the myriad of nurses didn’t seem to know what was going on, they were rude and unprofessional without a trace of empathy. In the end, after four days of hell she was turfed out in around 10pm in a worse state than she arrived. Torbay said that she was so dosed with morphine that it was hiding an infection, she was seen within minutes and the staff were shocked with my daughters tale. This isn’t the first case like this with Derriford, When my granddaughter was born I believe they put my daughters life in danger with their lack of care and empathy. When she was very young she had her tonsils removed, along with half a dozen other young children, they were put into a ward with a disabled child who had a mystery infection of her throat and lungs. My daughter and all the other children caught this, as did myself, my wife and my mother; we were all very ill for a month, you can imagine how my daughter suffered having just come out of surgery. I personally wouldn’t go to Dereford unless I was carried unconscious, there are no angels of mercy there, no courageous healers, just a very large group of people, putting up with the annoying public in order to grab their over inflated...