"The cleaning staff cared more ..."

What I liked

The cleaning staff cared more than the nursing staff. They actually spoke to me and asked me how I was. The odd agency nursing staff also occasionally made eye contact with me.

What could be improved

Where to start. Care from the nursing staff would be a start. The treatment I received was life-saving and I am very grateful for that, however there was no care given to me at all. Four blood tests had to be retaken because my name was spelt wrong on the label or not enough blood had been taken, It took 2 days for my name to be written above my bed. I was promised a CT scan for 4 days before I actually got it. It turned out I had blood clots on both lungs, a potentially fatal condition which could have been identified and treated 4 days earlier if they had done what they said they would. There was no entertainment on the ward because it kept being opened and closed. The food was inedible and we had to go to the visitors restaurant to eat. The people who served the food said that they wouldn't eat it if they were in here either! I was told on discharge that I needed an appointment with the anticoagulation clinic before Friday (it's now Wednesday, they only have clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays and I have only enough medication to last me until Monday!) The clinic had closed so I needed to ring the hospital the next day to get them to make the appointment. I first rang at 9:30 - it's now 13:00 and I still don't have an appointmen (I have rung them 4 times so far).

Anything else?

I witnessed inhumane treatment of people who were vulnerable. One elderly patient who was obviously incontinent had been left for a whole day in wet pyjamas. He was quite immobile but could get to the toilet with his frame, however he couldn't manage to open the heavy door by himself. Two nurses walked past him and ignored the facts that he was wet and needed changing and also that he couldnt actually get into the bathroom to help himself. It was a further 3 hours before anyone changed his clothes for him. Another patient was in obvious pain with a blockage in his drain. He was buzzing for a nurse to help him for 15 minutes and calling out for help - this is an 'emergency short stay ward' - perhaps this would indicate that there was an emergency but the staff didn't respond to his requests, leaving him in agony. The buzzer on the entrance door was broken for 5 days so visitors couldn't access the ward - patients were letting people in because the staff weren't. I could go on and on for hours but think you should have the picture by now. If you can avoid it, choose another hospital. The car park is inadequate and expensive - £42.00 in 7 days!