"Overcrowded ward"

I was contacted by my distressed father from 6c Vascular ward in RVH. He is in his eighties , post major surgery, currently requires a zimmer to mobilise and  on medication that increases need to use toilet with urgency. 

He was distressed and upset following a night where he was woken in his sleep, moved from a 6 bed bay to a shared space in the corridor nearby. He was cold and had not been orientated as to how to contact nurses if he needed help. He did not get any rest, something he has been told to do as part of ‘Recovery’. He reports another patient sleeping in the area had to help him find pyjama bottoms and helped dress him to keep him warm in the early hours.

While mobilising to try and find toilet a nursing assistant showed concern, observed he was not managing so well but did not come back to help. On contact with the ward this morning (and only the 2nd time I have been able to get phone contact with a staff member in 10 days ) they updated me that he was more well than other patients so had to move in the night due to an emergency. 

This ward is over committed with patients. The corridors are not set up for privacy and dignity of patients and are not safe spaces for patient care. The beds are too close in the corridor.

It would be difficult to mobilise independently round the area due to lack of space (no covid barriers here), never mind with mobility aids. There is no facility to contact nurses, no opportunity for peaceful rest and patient recovery is being impacted by Belfast Trust allowing wards to be flooded with extra patients who they cannot facilitate with appropriate / safe / caring accommodation and staffing levels. 

I find this disgraceful! It goes against everything a care environment should provide.

We have visited every day, twice a day, as have not been able to get information from care staff other than when we visit face to face .  Staff on the floor are generally working hard. I have observed some  staff who are new and seem to have little skill and experience, but trying their best. Also good staff with commitment, doing a good job,  working more than their planned rota hours due to short staffing.

Management should be looking at the ward bed situation.  All wards seem to be using this as an over flow which is inappropriate.   Inpatient care is being impacted by having more patients than staff or accommodation can facilitate, meaning the recovery is slowed and beds are required for longer .