"Care excellent but hygiene and parking charges..."

My daughter recently had a brain operation in the Hurstwood Park ward of Princess Royal Hospital, the surgeon and staff care cannot be faulted. The cleanliness however was disgusting. I appreciate the building was old and this is the NHS, but the room my daughter was in had barely any paint on the ancient decrepit window frames, there were dead insects on the window ledges and the corners of the room had live spiders. The building had french doors onto the garden, which should have been nice, but there was a dog owned by one of the patients that was allowed to sit on the patients bench right next to the French doors for hour upon hour each day that would bark and disturb the ward. Patients and visitors were stroking this animal and then walking straight back into the ward without using hand gels. I dread to think of the germs left on the seat for the patients to sit on. This is a Neuro ward with life threatening conditions being taken care of and a fast food restaurant would have stricter rules on cleanliness. I mentioned the dog to staff but they just smiled, shrugged and did nothing. The garden could have been very nice but had hundreds of cigarette ends all over the paths and sitting areas and an overflowing freestanding ashtray in the sitting area. There was one particular male member of staff (security/catering/cleaning I believe) who wore black with a security armband that spent large amounts of time lurking in the bushes near the seating areas smoking. There are signs everywhere saying the entire hospital grounds are no smoking. How can this be allowed in 2014, it was like something out of the 70's. Whilst obviously not as important, I also have to mention the parking charges. I understand the importance to raise funds through parking but primary carers should not have the added worry about huge parking charges (which apply 24 hours a day) and being wheel clamped whilst their loved ones are in intensive care. I intend to raise these comments with my MP, Francis Maude. I look forward to your comments. Regards, Roger Gill