"I am angry at the attitude of the staff "

My father is suffering from a complex bone marrow disorder MDS (Myeloproliferative disorders). This means that currently he needs regular blood transfusions, has a very low immune system and is in and out of hospital quite regularly. When he gets infections he gets very poorly very quickly. He has been admitted to A.E.U. twice recently having picked up infections. The first time he was admitted in the evening.

I felt that the ward sister didn’t have time for me, especially when I asked if I could get him a jug of water to take his tablets for the M.D.S. and his antibiotics. She made me feel like I was the least of her considerations. So then I went to find a vending machine. They later moved him to a side room as he is neutropeanic. We did not see them take his obs (observations) for 12 hours, despite him having a temperature of over 39 degrees on admission. I arrived the next night and my father told me he had not been given anything to eat since he was admitted and they also forgot to visit him at meal times. In my opinion they had forgotten about him.

He did get his water, at 10am the next day. My father is not an old man, he is only in his early 50's and I am angry at the attitude of the staff that were around him and they way that they behaved towards him. I believe he was treated like he was merely an inconvenience. We tried to treat him at home for as long as possible as I do not like the thought of him going back. Unfortunately he got too sick and we have had no choice but after speaking to him today, it’s sad to know his treatment has been no better. I understand that the nurses are probably under great strain and it is not an easy job to do but they do get paid for being there, and I think part of the requirement of being a nurse is caring about patients like my father and not making him feel like a burden.