"I was extremely disappointed to see nothing had changed"

I have recently spent a week in Hairmyers Hospital (not for the first time, the last being 4 years ago) and I was extremely disappointed to see nothing had changed. There are too few staff. However, my main concern was the treatment of patients.

I myself was not able to look after myself but no one assisted me with the toilet or showering. I felt that this was typical throughout my stay. I witnessed that some elderly patients’ food was left. I heard other elderly patients asking for the toilet: 2 minutes was the reply, and from what I experienced this was usually an hour before anyone came back. I felt that people were buzzing and being ignored.

I had the impression that my medication was never given at the right times and often missed out completely. In my opinion, infection control was negligible. I witnessed few nurses scrubbing between patients etc. I found that the ward smelled of people who had asked for the toiled constantly soiling beds. I also found the ward domestics very uncheery and it seemed to me that anything you asked for was a problem. My dad on one occasion asked about something i had asked for, the person quizzed him and he replied they would be better asking me. I am still waiting for them to come and see me or get what it was I needed.

I am very disappointed by the care received by myself and others. Even the nursing staff who looked after me said I would be better off out of there. One nurse saying they were ashamed to work there. I had dressings not changed for three days which were sodden. Every time I asked I was told they would get it done. When I first went in to hospital, I lay in A&E for four hours without so much as a drink/toilet/food or any attention at all.

My parents are no longer particularly young and I am worried that they may for some reason in the future have to go in to Hairmyers. After my experiences, I WILL NOT be allowing that. I experienced the same thing 4 years ago so it has not improved any despite the Hospitals assurances at that time that these things would be addressed. I felt I was treated the same as the elderly patients but I am a much younger person and have my wits about me. I could see what was wrong and I could see nothing was being done. I felt I had been dumped in an old folks home and I am extremely disappointed to see the way elderly or ill people were treated. I was fortunate and got transferred to another hospital where the care was second to none.