North Devon District Hospital

20÷11÷10. At the beginning of this year, my 19 year son was took into hospital with severe pain in his abdomen and back. He was admitted by A&E. During the time, in hospital, he had tests and was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis. After 4 – 5 days I was advised to take my son home, as a sickness bug was sweeping through the hospital, which I did. 2 week later he was admitted again 1 day later, sent home, 1 wk later admitted again 3 days later sent home, he was admitted a few times after that and the same sent home with medication that had no effect on him to stop the problem. In June, not only was he still suffering with his abdomen & back pain, he started with bladder problems, not being able to pass water and anything that entered his stomach made him vomit he also had problems going to the toilet the other end too. Every day when he was in hospital, I travelled 35 miles to visit my son to watch bad attitude, irritable, disrespectful nurses who have no sympathy or empathy for their patients. On one occasion my son needed to be cathertised, as he had not passed water for the most part of the day, and was in considerable amount of pain. I approached a nurse and very sharpley said, ‘I’ll be there in a minute’. 20 min later I approached her again, she sighed and had an expression on her face as if to say… Oh ok then I’ll do it… My temper was reaching to a level where I new I had to go outside and calm down. My son was discharged 2 days later, with a bladder that would not empty fully, with a view for an outpatients appointment in 3 MONTHS time.
Since then he has had to have a catheter placed on average every 2 weeks and it removed 1wk to 10 days later. We are at a stage now where he cannot swallow solid food and is having to live on water consistency complan and slimfast untill he can have further test in Dec. (another 2 week) On top of that, after we visited another consultant about an injury which happened in 2007, the staff nurse came swifting over to my son and I, going on about how pancreatitis calms down after a couple of weeks she said refux is nothing. I was so upset, I felt like hitting her. I thought who the hell is she, a bossy know all that knows nothing. How callous minded, and interfering with a face like cold stone. Well Barnstaple Hospital, I have only written briefly of what my son has been through for the past year, as I would be here all night filling this little box about my son versus Barnstaple Hospital… by the way to all the medical staff, he is still suffering as he has done for nearly a year now, and nothing has been done.
You ought to be ashamed with yourselves. Any mother would know how it feels to see their child suffer, who can you turn to? what can you do?.
I must also say that a Doctor named Katy, is excluded from all above as she was everything a patient would want to see in a doctor, caring natured person, unfortunately, my son had to be transferred to another doctor.

Recently had my shoulder surgery at North Devon Hospital and the treatment was first class.
I had my surgery on a new type of operating table which was very comfortable and the operation was completed much faster than previous.
Thanks to all the staff for my care.