"Basic facilities in Warrington's day ward"

As a long term type 2 adult onset diabetic, who has had many of the problems associated with long term diabetes, i.e. retinopathy, neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, nephropathy and coronary atrial fibrillation; I had long since learned the importance of correct diabetic control.

So it was with great reluctance, on admittance to Warrington General Hospital, in January this year, (for the removal of a large non-malignant tumour which had formed in my inner thigh), I handed over my diabetic control equipment together with my other medication.

All went smoothly until after the successful procedure to remove the tumour, when the following day my blood sugar readings went through the roof. The Staff Nurse had administered the normal amount of insulin that as recommended, but the operation had probably sent my system haywire.

A duty Doctor was summoned and seemed puzzled but recommended that I be given 5 units of insulin and my readings to be taken two hourly, I was told the next reading would be taken at 11pm.

The nurse looking after me was concerned when the next results were no different at this 11pm reading. She proceeded to administer 5 units of insulin and informed me that she would need to monitor me every two hours and repeat the 5 unit insulin dose.

I became very upset and agitated as I was very tired and not feeling well and the thought of having to woken and given what I considered a waste of time dose every two hours was intolerable. I asked not to be disturbed any further.

The following day despite my readings being still very high, I was asked if I would object to being moved to a Day ward. I was told the bed was urgently required for another patient.

I was then taken to what I would describe as a “rest room”. There were eight beds without any bedding, no wardrobes, just a large plastic bin for your clothes. There was a tiny hand basin in the toilet with no other personal hygiene facilities. I am sure that that had health and safety been informed of the standards being observed, the ward would have been closed.

There were six other patients sitting on the beds, each with different medical problems, some quite serious, including a young man who had only that day had his appendix removed.

There were no telephones or access to one, we were not allowed to use mobiles, and it was a dreadful experience that should not be allowed to happen in any NHS hospital.