"Stimulation needed in the Stroke unit"

I read with interest the response of a member of staff from the ‘Advice and Complaints Team’ when a reviewer stated that there was little stimulation in the Stroke ward for patients. Having had my mother recovering in that ward for the last few weeks I would wholeheartedly agree that there is a desperate need for stimulation for patients. This member of staff is clearly out of touch with the majority of patients receiving care within the ward itself if they feel that the inmates could cope with using tablets. Not only are many of the patients elderly but more to the point are (though the disability their stroke has inflicted upon them) unable to operate a tablet or hold it upright so they can see it. As an extremely active and articulate pensioner, my mother needed some kind of stimulation. The best she could hope for was that something might happen as she stared out of the window of her room. Although the nursing care was very good, I’m sure that many health professionals working on that ward would agree with the visitors and patients that having TV and radios in the rooms would aid recovery. Also I feel that it would be beneficial for those who respond to complaints to visit the individual ward so they have a clearer understanding of the physical ability of those being treated within them. Then they may see the absurdity of suggesting they use hand held tablets, which most of them don’t own.