"My husband suffered a mild stroke ..."

What I liked

My husband suffered a mild stroke on new year's eve and I took him to A & E at around 9pm that evening. To my surprise and delight we were seen immediately and by midnight my husband was on an assessment ward.

He remained a patient for a further 3 days, during which time he had a CT scan and various other tests. Although the consultant had asked for a scan to be done the day he was admitted it did not take place until the following day due, apparently, to a shortage of staff on new years day.

Overall the staff were pleasant and respectful and my husbands stay was relatively comfortable. He was unhappy about being moved in the middle of the second night to another ward and the people who were escorting him were not considerate to him or his needs at that time.

His follow up appointment was delayed and I had to chase this up, but the doctors and staff who saw him thereafter were all pleasant and helpful and included both of us in his care and treatment. Subsequent tests were done on his arteries and heart which went well but again I had to push for earlier appointments.

When you have had a stroke there is a greater chance that you will have another one so I feel that such tests should all have been done whilst he was an in-patient.

Regrettably the technician who undertook the ECG was less than pleasant. They were brusque and barely spoke to my husband or me and seemed as if they were annoyed about something or someone.

Overall though we found the hospital was clean and the staff did a great job.

What could be improved

Undertaking all relevant tests on stroke patients whilst they are an in-patient to minimise stress, worry and concern, and to ensure that any necessary medication or other treatment can be administered at the earliest possible opportunity.

Some staff need re-training on their people skills (see my comment re ECG)