"Visited A+E in August 2008 as ..."

What I liked

Visited A+E in August 2008 as my mother had been admitted - care was good and my mother was able to be discharged same day.

Visitor regularly from Dec 2008 -February 2009 after my elderly father was admitted. Unfortunately during this time I can only say that the care given to him was and at times very poor and unacceptable. Information about his condition from the nursing staff was inconsistent - showed internal communication between staff was lacking. During his stay it became clear that FPH really wasn't set up to look after elderly and dementia patients. Before my father was admitted he was being cared for by my mother. His mobility was reasonable despite his limitations after a stroke and my mother coped admirably as his carer. On his discharge his weight had plummeted by 2 stone and his mobility was severely compromised. This unprecedented deterioration has clearly come as a cost to him with his quality of life, and has culminated with his early admission to a nursing home.

What could be improved

Why doesn't this hospital have a dedicated ward for elderly and dementia patients - his prolonged stay amongst general medical patients is not condusive for their recovery!

The NHS has become so target driven that the real care of patients seems to have fallen "off the radar" in favour of "box-ticking". This has clearly led to staff lacking initiative and the ability to treat patients as individuals.

How are the outcomes of recommendations highlighted in your Action Plan for 2008 and beyond measured/managed? Some recommendedimprovements were not visible during my fathers stay.

Anything else?

The parking situation at the hospital is a shambles. With reference to Andrew Morris's "reluctance" to improve the parking facility, he clearly has not spent what could be precious time between life and death trying to find somewhere to park.