"In a major area such as Cardiology, ..."

What I liked

In a major area such as Cardiology, the nurses (mainly students) in general hadn't a clue when dealing with common complementary issues such as diabetes. (One staff nurse even forgot to dispense medication to one patient).

In general the doctors were young housemen. I knew more about management of diabetes than they did - as subsequent events proved!

My nurse daughter even had to diagnose a hypo from her home in Essex and told the ward sister what to do - they even cocked that up! So much for nursing quality.

A second stay in July (following a triple heart bypass at Southampton) was better but upon discharge it took the hospital pharmacy 24 hours to dispense the required medication and then it needed a nurse to go there and collect the medication personally!

Lovely new hospital but with the same old problem of insufficient experienced nursing staff and incompetant administration.

I even had to enlist the help of PALS to get a scan that I was waiting for for days - they were good, probably as their issues reflect upon hospital ratings.

What could be improved

Have less student nurses and more experienced nursing staff.

Man the pharmacy adequately.