"In my opinion more staff are needed"

I spent 13 days in a orthopaedic ward on Gateley Ward at the NUNH after having cervical spine surgery. I wasn't happy with the care as in my opinion there were not enough staff to care for a trauma ward. I was left in a bathroom for 1 hour unassisted with my patient bell ringing for that length of time. I was shouting for help. Somebody opened the door and said hello. I asked them to get me help but the person just shut the door.

I had to manage to walk to the bathroom door with catheter attached. A physio was outside. I called her as I was in floods of tears and in a great deal of pain. I asked if she could get me back to my room. She took me back to my room and a nurse then apologised and was sorry this had happened. On another occasion the catheter needed flushing. This was left for some hours before anything was done. I didn't get a shower until 2.45. In the afternoon patient bells were ringing anything from 15 to 20 mins. The ward was a f trauma ward where there a lot of older people some with that needed a lot of care also with dementia. So it means sleepless nights with shouting and confusion. It's not their fault.

Something needs to be done. In my opinion more staff are needed to give patients the proper care they need.