"A&E, CDU and Ward 23"

Anything else?

I was brought into A&E via ambulance, at short notice. I was distressed, and very unwell. After waiting approx. half and hour, alone and without my glasses and a mobile phone without charge, I was seen by a doctor. I was told after some time I had to be admitted - and was sent to CDU. At this point I was so unwell I was incapable of communication, although I was trying to get through to the staff that my daughter and sister had to be informed of my situation - this did not happen. After review I was wheeled off in my bed to ward 23, suffering from sickness and diarrhoea , unable to stand. On arrival on the ward, I was told by a nurse to get out of my bed and walk into my room, although I was constantly vomiting and weak. Staff are under great pressure to look after a large number of staff - some of the staff on the ward were empathetic, kind and took time to listen to me - others were rude, patronising and did not respond to my calls. I heard one nurse swearing as she passed my room and moaning about patients, another claimed I had been given medication when I hadn't. One morning, I asked a nurse if I could have a fan as I had a temp - she actually suggested I move my bed nearer the window?? She was serious. And unhelpful, and did not treat me with any respect. I was not given any information, my records were not kept up-to-date, my fluid intake not measured, extremely poor communication (one health care assistant wrote I did not have diarrhoea, yet I had told her that I was suffering hourly. My daughter has some medical training and was horrified to see my charts, incomplete and incorrect. One morning my iv line fell out - literally, and blood was everywhere - lI was told that another IV line would be put in soon, 11 hours later, after waiting hour after hour for a staff member to come and do it, I was told it would be too difficult and they weren't going to bother. Staff did not inform me, I had to ask questions constantly, and no explanations were given - on one of the days a porter suddenly arrived in my room to take me for an ultrasound - only after constant questioning did I get an explanation of why, Luckily I had my sister and daughter around, to fight my corner for me - to go to the nurses station to ask for drugs, or to get clarification on issues. There are some lovely nursing staff on ward 23 but there are also some very poor nursing staff too. For any vulnerable patients - and in my state I was extremely vulnerable,ward 23 was hell. If I ever need hospital treatment I will refuse to go to Scunthorpe Hospital. My bed was never made, my slippers slipped under my bed and when retrieved were covered in dust. I was not given a wristband during my five day stay, and although I was in a sideroom, I felt ignored, a nuisance if I rang my bell, and I couldn't wait to get out. I self discharged as soon as I could stand,