"The medical staff in A&E were ..."

What I liked

The medical staff in A&E were great really reassuring and thorough. They seemed pretty stretched but were still very kind to me. There was one doctor who I observed not being that 'pleasant' to patients, so I was grateful NOT to have him. Up in the Assesment ward, the staff there really comforted me with humour too, I was very frightened.

What could be improved

The food, I have to say was unlike ANYTHING I have ever seen. It was absolutely DISGRACEFUL!! How one can ruin a jacket potato I do not know. It was 'grey', strings in it and was cold. It looked like it had been reheated from 3 days before. I was starving but had to leave it. I looked at the other peoples food and it seemed equally appaulling. I have NEVER experienced such HORRENDOUS food in my life, and I've been in hospital alot of it.

The other thing was the cleanliness of the ward, or lack of it. There was wall paper falling off, big holes in the wall where plaster had fallen off. The floors and surround were filthy. It was like a channel 4 documentary! I also noticed the cleaning report stated that the ward had failed on all counts for some time. You really must sort this out. It's not safe or acceptable.

Anything else?

The medical staff seem stretched, because I am young and fairly able I helped fellow patients with their dressing gowns, to reach water and food, called nurses when they couldn't and gave them tissues etc I wish there were enough staff and time for patients to receive that kind of care.

One lady couldn't reach her water and spilt it over herself, and stayed wet for some time. Another struggled to reach her food spilling it all down herself, until I helped. They were also given food packages they couldn't open. So, it just sat there.

I dont know what the other wards are like, and I was card for, so I'm sorry to sound so damning, but my comments are purely factual.