"Serious conerns about staff on Eden Ward"

Both my girlfriend and my mother had to stay overnight on the Eden Ward at RCHT Treliske with two days (for unrelated surgical issues, talk about bad timing!) and I was shocked and appalled at the level of care they received. I don't think either of them could believe just how badly they were cared for.

Let's start with the staff, from what I saw they lacked either the time to care for their patients properly or the compassion to do so.

My Mum said that the staff were so neglectful that, despite asking for water repeatedly from different staff members, not one returned to give her any. She also recounted one occasion when the lady in the bed opposite needed assistance to go to the toilet and was told by a nurse that she would return but was left unassisted until my mum got out of bed (after abdominal surgery) and walked to the nurses station to get help for her!

My Mum was also not given her overnight bag despite repeated requests. She was given no food until the morning and then was ignored all morning until she was told at lunch that she could have gone home after breakfast.

My girlfriend's experience was equally poor. From rudeness and neglect, to lack of information and support. Being discharged with no information about how long to keep the compression socks or surgical dressings on.

Serious issues here which RCHT need to address urgently. The last thing vulnerable surgical patients need is a standard of care even remotely similar to the one my family has experienced.