Havant mum says she was '˜humiliated' by staff at hospital after op

Tahlia Ridgeway went in to the Cosham hospital for a prolapse repair earlier this month.

But the 33-year-old says she was left waiting in a bed half-naked for hours, in extreme pain and without painkillers.

And she says staff humiliated her by laughing at a request for more painkillers.

Now she has made an official complaint.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust said it will investigate.

Mrs Ridgeway, of Highclere Avenue, Leigh Park, was so distressed at the way she claims she was treated she discharged herself and went to St Richard’s Hospital, in Chichester, instead.

The animal care assistant said staff appeared not to care about other patients on her ward and added: ‘I explained that in my complaint will be details of how these disgusting staff treated other patients too, not thinking about their dignity or caring about them.

‘I’d love to have maybe met some of the patients’ relatives because I would have told them exactly what their poor relatives were being put through, but I could not stay a moment longer.’

Because of complications Mrs Ridgeway ended up having to stay overnight but was not found a bed until 9.45pm.

She had a temporary catheter fitted after the procedure and claims even though she was in extreme pain she was only given two paracetamol and an ibuprofen tablet over an eight-hour period.

She said for much of the time her pleas for pain relief were ignored.

By midnight I was still in an awful lot of pain and my wound was throbbing so I pressed the call bell,’ said Mrs Ridgeway.

‘I explained my wound area was throbbing and sore and made an open and closed hand gesture to show her what I was trying to say.

‘I just wanted to know if it was normal to experience this, and if I could have some more pain relief.

‘To my disgust they went out to the nurse I saw one of the nurses walk up to another nurse and make the hand gesture that I had made and she mouthed the word “throbbing”.

‘The second nurse repeated what she had just said and they both burst out laughing.

‘There was the group of night staff sat around the nurse station who then also joined in and they all sat there giggling and discussing what I had said.

‘I have never been so mortified and upset in my life.’

A spokesperson for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘We cannot comment on individuals due to patient confidentiality.

‘The quality of patient care is the highest priority of the trust and any feedback about this care is highly valued and taken very seriously.

‘Any formal complaint to the trust’s complaints team is fully investigated in line with our trust policy.’