I had an excellent start at this clinic, with a warm welcome and a very reassuring initial consultation. The early stages of my care were professional and helped alleviate many of my fears.
Due to the effects of the anaesthetic, I do not remember seeing the operating theatre or being aware of the surgery itself, which I later found quite disconcerting. Following the post-operative review the next day, the quality of care deteriorated significantly.
On the ward, my pain and nausea were very poorly managed. I was experiencing severe pain, vomiting (which is extremely distressing after an abdominoplasty), and had great difficulty mobilising. Despite feeling clearly unwell and not ready for discharge, I was persuaded to leave the clinic and return to hotel-based nursing care, with the assurance that the care there would be better. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
The transfer itself was distressing. A broken wheelchair was used, and the vehicle provided was not suitable for someone in my condition, requiring steps that I could not climb into or out of safely.
Once at the hotel, I was given a large amount of medication with no written instructions, which felt unsafe and confusing. My pain continued to be poorly controlled. I repeatedly used the emergency call system overnight due to severe pain and inability to sleep, but was mainly offered NSAIDs and antihistamines, which were ineffective. I was exhausted, distressed, and felt trapped in my room as I could not mobilise properly.
Nursing cover was limited to set hours, and access to adequate pain relief and sleep support felt inconsistent and insufficient. Several staff members appeared dismissive of my concerns, repeatedly stating that my symptoms were “normal,” without proper assessment.
One incident was particularly alarming: a nurse removed surgical support tape from her own arm and applied it directly to my surgical wound, which posed a clear infection risk.
There were also repeated inconsistencies in what I was told regarding the medication I had received, which added to my distress and confusion about my pain management.
After several days of ongoing pain and repeated requests for help, one nurse finally took my concerns seriously. She listened, properly assessed my pain, bruising, and swelling, and contacted a doctor for advice. This intervention came only after four days of significant discomfort and distress.
Due to my condition, I booked an additional night at the hotel because I was not well enough to travel as originally planned. The discharge process was also very poorly handled. The nurse arrived at the same time as my airport transfer, rushed my dressings despite having prior notice, and I was discharged without adequate supplies. I was not given sufficient medication, dressings, or items needed to manage leaking drain sites, and I only received two days’ worth of pain control. No written discharge instructions or aftercare guidance were provided.
Upon returning home, I went straight to my GP, who addressed my pain management properly and provided appropriate care. Seven days later, I am pain-free and mobilising thanks to this follow-up care.
I last heard from the clinic six days ago, which is disappointing given the promises made regarding aftercare. I also submitted a detailed complaint outlining both positive and negative feedback, along with suggestions for improvement, but have not received any acknowledgement two weeks later.
While parts of the initial experience were positive, the post-operative care, discharge process, pain management, and aftercare support were extremely disappointing. Until these serious issues are addressed, I would not recommend this clinic
