"I would rather not be a patient here"

I had a 3 day stay in ward 56 following a TURP and to be honest yet again I feel the Western General has been found wanting. The ward was grossly understaffed and if you needed anything done then you had to be prepared to wait.

4 hours to get a drip moved from the pole attached to the bed to a mobile one which effectively restricted movement as the hose was rather short.

Over two hours to have the two needles in my hand looked at as there did not seem to be enough tape holding them in place and one had come completely free and was bleeding while the second was flapping around.

Three quarters of an hour for a stool sample to be removed from the toilet.

Even though the staff were warned that as I was unable to eat solid food I would need by Thursday evening meal and Friday breakfast bottles of Fortisip supplied, I had taken enough in for Wednesday and early Thursday. Friday came and there was no Fortisip.

I do not blame the staff per se as they were very short staffed with more high dependency patients. I understand it is hard when difficult circumstances warrant it. So the nursing staff would invariably forget those of us that had perhaps more minor needs.

The other thing I found particularly difficult is whilst on the ward you never seem to see the same doctor twice. Though I was impressed with the kindness and caring of the young doctors I did see.

My surgeon and anaesthetist were also exemplary. And this coming from a person who has had many difficult times with arrogant consultants in recent years who i feel see you as little more than a number on some government target list rather than an actual person.

The Western General has for me been a hospital I would rather not be an in patient.