I recently spent a short time in England from Australia to visit my Sister in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. I telephoned regarding visiting hours prior to attending not realising that it was a 2.5hr bus ride from London. When I arrived at 12:15 I was told the ward closed at 12:00 & I couldn't visit my Sister until 3:00pm, unfortunately I was due to meet my ongoing connection & couldn't wait. I explained this but was told very rudely by the clerk that under no circumstances could I visit. I requested that she be wheeled into the foyer but again was dismissed. I became extremely upset as this was a surprise visit & may never see my Sister again as she is 72yrs old & I am not able to re-visit England. I wrote a note & left it with the clerk whereby she told me I could visit for 5mins. I spent a precious 20mins consoling my Sister & that I understood why the ward needed to close. In this time the same clerk told me 4 times to leave although the other patents & staff were very sympathetic & added that under the special circumstances the rules need not be so strict. In hindsight, I should have been just as rude as the clerk and demanded my right to visit my aging Sister. I'm sure the clerk on Ward F remembers this incident & in future treats both patients, visitors and colleagues with the respect I showed under difficult circumstances.
"Unfair treatment of overseas visitor"
About: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Oxford OX3 7HE
Posted via nhs.uk
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