The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has circa 500 beds, 28 wards and serves a population of around 331,000 people who are living in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.
Feedback
879 responses from the local community
Waiting for procedure
5
Submitted by Anonymous6th February 2022
For over a year now I have been waiting for an Anterior vaginal wall repair+Biodesign+/- hysterectomy +/- sacrospinous fixation. The last communication I have received from the Gynaecologist was 26/1/21. And while I appreciate the turmoil covid has caused I would really like to have some reassurance that I am still on the waiting list. My prolapse is causing no end of problems, resulting in me having to buy over the counter creams/pessarys etc.
Reply from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your current concerns relating to whether you are on the waiting list for treatment or not. As your feedback is provided anonymously I am not able to give you a definitive answer. I would suggest that you call the hospital switchboard (01553 613613) and ask to speak to the Admissions team as they will have the most up to information about the waiting lists. If you have any additional questions please email me directly (or call me on the number below) and I will do what I can to support you or refer you to the team most able to help.
Kind regards
Emma Harrison
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Lead
email: emma.harrison@qehkl.nhs.uk
tel: 01553 613613 x 2432
Insane procedures
1
Submitted by Vanessa2nd September 2021
My 75 year old Dad has finally got to the admissions stage waiting for surgery, turns out the bed they said was booked wasn’t available and he could get sent home! He’s up there alone ready for theatre with no cash on him to get home, this is appalling and also he’s diabetic and had nothing to eat for nearly 24 hours now. Why book an operation in and not have a bed for afterwards, the stress of going today has nearly wiped us all out and now it could be that he had to come home and do it all again. Disgusting treatment of people especially an old aged pensioner
I was referred to have an echocardiogram done in Mar 2020. I rang in to see when I'd be expecting an appointment in June 2020 and was told, "we don't have a referral for you on file". Fast forward a few months and I get a letter through to have an echo done. Hmmm. Had the echo done Sept 2020. I heard NOTHING more of it.
Was admitted to hospital for an unrelated issue and upon my admission process, was told the gp records showed I had heart failure. I said, "no". The Dr said, "I thought that was an error...you're too young for that."
I was too poorly in hospital to think clearly, but upon returning home, twigged that I had had an echo back in Sept 2020, and MAYBE the heart failure diagnosis IS correct. Rang the GP and surprise, I DO have heart failure. I have rang the gp several times to check on my follow-up referral and it has now been 3 months, and still no communication. Nevermind it has been nearly a YEAR since the echo was completed, diagnosing the issue.
I have a copy of the report, and it even states on there that I dont have a follow-up appointment.
I've been trying to get referred to another hospital now as I don't even want any "care" from this place. It's appalling!
Despite being given the Earth-shattering news at having breast cancer, the Consultant (Miss Johnson] and the Breast Care Nurses listened to me, guided me through the steps, carried out the operation with skill and expertise. I have been left looking not too bad, which was more than I hoped for. So lucky am I to be able to tell the tale
Reply from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Thank you for taking the time to post your feedback about your recent experience in our hospital - I apologise for the delay in responding.
I am so pleased to hear that despite being told terrible news that it was handled so carefully by Miss Johnson and her colleagues in the Breast Care Unit. I will share your feedback with the team so that they are aware of how their care and support has been appreciated by you. I hope you have continued to recover well following your operation.
Kind regards
Emma Harrison
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Lead
Tel: 01553 613613 x2432
email: emma.harrison@qehkl.nhs.uk
Clinic cancelled with no warning
1
Submitted by Anonymous10th May 2021
I suffer from chronic migraine and have done for many years. The only way I get some small respite is to have 2 injections in the base of my skull every 8 weeks. I phoned because I hadn't had my next appointment through to be told the consultant had left and the clinic wasn't running. My injections are already 4 weeks overdue and who knows when I'll manage to get the next set. I'll just struggle on with the pain.
Exceptional care from all staff. I received a full explanation from the surgeon and anaesthetist about what would happen during snd after the operation. Staff Nurse Natasha on Sandringham Unit was superb. I couldn’t fault the care, thank you!
Many thanks for arranging for me to have my 1ST COVID Jab this morning. Unsurprisingly, the service was incredible and please convey my thanks to all involved.
On arrival, the guys at the car park entrance were welcoming and explained where people needed to park and then what to do. The staff working taking temperatures and staffing reception were friendly and thorough and I saw them putting some elderly folk at ease by talking them though the whole process. Once inside the main room, there was an air of calmness and tranquillity measured with gentle laughter and obvious camaraderie amongst those vaccinating and those ensuring that we didn’t “escape” before the 15 minutes was up! All in all, a thoroughly professional service, many thanks
After finding a suspicious lump I got an appointment the same day, then was having surgery within 3 weeks. This was in the last 6 months and COVID didn’t hinder that – everything seemed to carry on as normal. However, I am also under the care of Papworth for another condition, so before and after my operation they called me to talk about the medication QEH were putting me on – it turns out I couldn’t have the medication because it might make my liver problems worse. Now I have had my operation, the consultant at QEH doesn’t want to see me until next September. I think I will be seeing the breast cancer nurse before then, but not the surgeon and I don’t really know why. I am a little bit annoyed with the surgeon because she didn’t take in to account other conditions I have when prescribing my medication. She could have easily figured this out by talking to me.
The communication I experienced following a cancer operation wasn’t brilliant. They put me on medication, but I wasn’t sure if I should be having a follow-up appointment. The oncologists didn’t tell me, and it was actually the anaesthetist at QEH that said he would check. It turned out I was supposed to be having a follow-up, but hadn’t heard anything about it. I think you need to be able to have the confidence to have a conversation with the doctors about the next stage of your care, as it is not always fully explained.
When you are on the border of three counties like me and have a number of specialists involved in your care everything takes longer. I have had different doctors from Addenbrookes and King’s Lynn calling me, but I don’t know where they’re from unless I ask them. I have found that the process is not fully explained about getting to the next phase of treatment and on more than one occasion I have felt like the ‘messenger’ between hospital specialists.