"my mother who has dementia"

My mother was placed on ward 8 on 2 separate occasions for lengthy periods. I observed the staff on duty as having not enough time to spend with patients who required a high level of one to one care, due to the anxiety and confusion such patients with dementia required. for example meal times, often patients required feeding. by the time a nurse was free, the meal was cold and when patients buzzed for help I observed on many occasions patients having to wait a long time before being seen to, often consequently the patient was then saturated in urine, making the nurses time not spent with the initial problem but having to spend time cleaning up the mess. usually this required 2 staff. However despite being in my opinion understaffed ,I found the staff , very patient , calm supportive and respectful , although communication with staff regarding my mothers progress was with each staff /Doctors varied and disjointed as though 'the right hand did not know what the left hand was doing. My family had to chase up procedures that were promised and at times staff were unsure as to why it hadn't happened . I have nothing but praise for the caring attitude of most of the staff on this ward but to ensure a level of good quality care it is my opinion that they are very understaffed .and lacked clear communication with each other on patient developments . In saying what I have said my mother, although challenging with her dementia , staff were patient and caring with her and tried hard to ensure she was content and safe when family was not present , they are an asset to the ward. I felt it was just a case of better communication , perhaps training and ward management and staffing that needed tweeking . I have nothing but praise for the nursing staff on ward 8b Could I also comment on the smokers ,quite often patients who sit outside the front entrance of the hospital , with drips, wheelchair bound and in gowns , I understand that hygiene is top priority along with health and safety , the grounds belong to the NHS I presume , can they not do anything about this situation as it is my opinion that this does nothing for the profile of the Hospital and having to walk through this 'gang' of smoking public having hospital treatment on a daily basis is not a good advert for the hospital presentation , along with going through such unhealthy passage into the hospital , is there nothing the trust could change about this ? Thank you