Pilgrim Hospital - Boston

Caroline Granger

I had an appointment at Pilgrim hospital yesterday (16th Oct) , 10am for an ERCP. As we have to travel 20miles we left in plenty of time in case of road blockages and arrived early. I booked in at the reception and because I was going to be there for 6 hours my husband left me to go home. I sat in the waiting room for barely 5 mins when a nurse came and told me the doctor wanted to see me. He told me he was sorry, but they wouldn't be doing the procedure that day. Great, I'd syked myself up for it and now it was cancelled. I tried to get an explanation as to why but nothing. So there I was, no procedure, my husband was on the way home (I imagine he was barely out of the car park when I was told) and as he hasn't got a mobile I had to wait about 45mins to tell him to turn round and come back to pick me up, which would have been another 45 mins to come back. To make matters worse, there was a bad car crash so he had to divert which made it longer. This is not the only mess up while waiting for a gall bladder removal and I am seriously considering not bothering to go ahead with it. If the procedure was going to be cancelled, why didn't someone phone me before I got there. I have both a landline and a mobile so I could have been reached easily. The 2 stars are for the lovely nurse and the nice lady on reception. The doctor was pleasant enough and did tell me he'd rebook me in again as soon as possible, then proceeded to tell me about the procedure in a way which frightened me. Not his fault, he was only telling it like it is but I must admit it has put me off. It would have helped to know why it was cancelled at such short notice. I think they owe me an explanation.

Hope Campbell

Every time i’ve used this hospital i’ve had terrible experiences but today topped them all. I’m 32 weeks pregnant and was suffering from pains along my stomach, i rang 111 as i live alone and they had been happening for 7 hours at this point , 111 made the decision to send out a ambulance. After being seen and monitored in Labour ward i was then told to basically just ignore the pains with no explanation at all on what it is and what is going on. When examining me i was given a yellow and brown stained sheet to cover myself with and a dirty cup for water. I was then sent on my way with no assistance while still struggling in pain , then a midwife thought it would be appropriate to stop me in my room before i left and lecture me on how the resources used to help me could of been used on someone who “actually” needed it and how i’ve wasted equipment and time when i “didn’t need it” I was also lectured on how the bands used for my stomach monitors are also one person use so i need to keep them instead of wasting them. I have never felt less helped in my life. i still have no idea in what is wrong while still suffering with pains, i feel like this was so unprofessional as i was a young girl , alone while being heavily pregnant and obviously scared.

Geraldine Barton

Took a resident to the hospital for a "manual evacuation ", the nurses whilst we were waiting couldn't be more kinder, they brought him a hot blended meal. Took all necessary obs, we helped them get him on the bed from wheelchair and the Dr was so gentle with him. From start to finish the whole process was fine apart from the 5 hour wait. Apart from that spot on.

Qasim Hussain

Great experience from everyone I came in contact with from check in to being seen to getting bloods done to getting drips done and regular checks through your time there and my transfer with ambulance service. This site is what the nhs is about they take pride and care in making sure your 100 percent and not just trying to get rid of you when it gets busy.

Steve Sparks

Great nursing staff under pressure all the time.very caring.excellent vascular care in theatre 9.....thank you all for repairing my left leg an after care on vascular surgical w.
ard before and after my op. Forever grateful. x

Diane Harrison

Had my op after a few cancellations.But wow how I have been cared for by all the staff from domestics to consultant surgeons, Amazing,felt safe, secure, excellent communication , can't find enough words to express my thanks to the elective surgical team and staff , ward 2b & ward 5 and the surgical team who did my operation also the staff in my follow up appointment in emergency care today ,

Simon Earl

I was admitted to Pilgrim Hospital to A&E by ambulance, taken to a cublcle and transferred to an A&E trolley where I was X Rayed. I was then taken to a second cubicle where I had a cheese sandwich and I spent the night. I understand that it's A&E and will be noisy throughout the night but I didn't get any sleep. The A&E trolleys are very uncomfortable.

The next morning I was offered a small bowl of cereal with milk which I ate. Lunchtime was another sandwich, for variation I had egg. In the afternoon I was taken to IAC ward and was offered a sandwich and a banana.

Apart from the additional sausage roll that my wife bought that was all I was given in my first 24 hours for sustenance. I am still very hungry and can't sleep never mind the noisy staff.

How can anyone survive on such measly portions? I would think prison inmates are offered more than that.

All in all the staff have been excellent apart from one jumped up junior doctor who needs to get his head out of his own arse and learn some bedside manner.

Scarlett White

The one star is for the vascular surgeon (5 stars for him actually) and the nurses particularly the lovely nurse on the COVID ward (my elderly mother got COVID in Pilgrim of course). My mother was here for 3 months following a fall. Surviving Pilgrim is an achievement in itself. Whilst the surgery was great it was the aftercare that made me shudder. When finally released my mother was a shadow of her former self. The discharge dept are a disgrace - left my mother in hospital scrubs without access to toileting for 3 hours. Morphine is over used - 2 months of it and you'll be losing your mind - not to mention addicted - don't the staff know the dangers of excessive use of opioids?! My mother wasn't even in pain but was given morphine automatically until I got the specialist to finally get it stopped. My mother was misdiagnosed as suffering dementia in fact she was suffering post operative delirium - exacerbated by the endless daily drugging with morphine. There is zero communication from most specialists no matter how many times you try - and Sister of Orthopaedic Ward- takes the ticket. Don't expect a word of help or kindness. Only one specialist was responsive (he managed to get the morphine stopped and her delirium stopped shortly after)- The other players involved shunt you from person to person no one giving a shred of information or empathy (in fact they will ignore your inquiries). An orderly smashed mum's glasses - then Sister argued she arrived that way! Oh and don't waste your time complaining it's a complete sham, they will deny everything or admit it (as some did) and then give a lame apology. Having said all this the physiotherapy Dept is great and the nurses are mainly caring and do their best in third world conditions. The Air Team are the pits - they decide whether or not you can access rehab on release- good luck with that - they assess elderly people while on a noisy ward only to conclude they are not 'suitable' - don't they realise that's a life changing decision for some. How can anyone be 'not suitable' for rehab?! (your future in the hands of a barely qualified snotty girl who clearly doesn't give a rats). Unbelievable. Don't know how they sleep at night. Patients are human and so are their helpless relatives. Interpersonal training seriously needed for 90 per cent of the staff. Air team and discharge staff need a serious overhaul.