"The star status goes to the one ..."

What I liked

The star status goes to the one particular doctor and the physiotherapist who were the ones who showed compassion and kindness and were particulary supportive and caring towards me..

The very nice consultant was great too.

What could be improved

The layout of the toilets need rearranging. On a frame or crutches it was impossible to reach the toilet paper Everything was difficult to reach.

The bed pans were too small I had the embarrassment of wetting the bed several times although I am only a size 14. When I raise the issue I was told they did have bigger ones. So why didn't I get them?.

The staff spent a lot of their time at the nursing staion laughing and joking I think they enjoy each others company more than they like being with a patient. I wish even one of the nursing staff had made the time to spend five minutes with me before I went to theatre.

Anything else?

Never at anytime during my stay was I addressed by my name by the nursing staff. The card that was at the back of other patient's beds did not appear on mine until the 8th day That was the day I left. I was in a bay with 3 patients who had broken their backs they were given preferential treatment and care which no doubt they required but I was ill too. I said I had a chest infection. The doctor told me his senior told him to ignore it and see if it developed. It did I suffer from COPD and I should have had treatment immediatley. It got worse and I needed nebulizers.

I got mixed messages of how the nursing staff wanted me to behave. If I asked a qualified member of staff whilst they were on the bay if I could have assistance. They would say no ring the bell. If I rang the bell whilst another HCSW was on the ward they would say why don't you just ask me? It was very confusing.

The cleaning of the bay was very superficial. The cleaner laboriously pushed a mop round and everyday missed the apple cores and label from the apples that were under the bed next to me. I brought them to the attention to the HCW who got on their knees and scraped them up .One night a very drunk patient with head injuries tried to get onto our bay at midnight . All of us were scared. The staff nurse had dissapeared only 2 elderly HCSW were between us and him. The patient in the next bed shouted 'Somebody lock the door.'

All six of us looked at each other.knowing that none of us could do this we were all totally imbolie. If it hadn't been so scary it would have been funny.