"The expertise and empathy and respect of..."

What I liked

The expertise and empathy and respect of a temporary consultant surgeon, who treated me with diginity and respect, rather than just a number like some of the nurses who were offish and moody and spoke in a demeaning and curt manner.

I would like to emphasise that there were lovely staff and some nurses who were really caring and supportive, however the few who werent really need to learn about why they are doing their jobs.

What could be improved

Staff regardless of status should treat patients with diginity and respect, and remember the reason why they joined the profession instead of having a bad attitude with patients because they are over worked and stressed. It would be good if hospital staff were trained fully in patient/ customer care and learned how to communicate sympathetically towards patients, instead of rough and curtly, and talking with bad attitude low regards towards patients pain, trauma and suffering.

Whilst in Ealing hospital ward 9 north, I was treated by many different staff of different ranks.

Some were curteous enough doing the obs every hour or so, but a few I came across had very bad attitudes, and were showing very judgemental behaviour towards me, as a patient. This behaviour and attitude for anyone is totally unacceptable and as a patient who had undergone emergency operation feeling physical and emotional disturbance was enough to deal with let alone the bad attitudes that I came across from a few staff members.

It is not the right of any staff to make judgements or behave inappropriately towards a patient in terms of degradation of a patients self esteem, which I experienced whilst in ITU under the care of two asian nurses on Friday 13th August, and again when I was moved to the Huxley ward 9 north when treated disrespectfully by a staff nurse on that ward.

Another point for improvement is privacy, when doctors discuss the details of patients health, its not acceptable that other patients are within earshot of the discussions.

Anything else?

I left the hospital feeling very upset and having undergone major life saving surgery, I cannot believe that the staff in hospitals behave in those ways, regardless of how short staffed and over worked they are. Whilst in the hospital I wanted to leave as quickly as possible because of my bad treatment given. I would never recommend anyone to go there, even though I was told that the reputation and practises of the hospital had improved since a damning audit report a decade ago had forced improvements to be made.

I cant emphasise enough how much ALL STAFF, need to have training and skills in dealing with patients sympathetically and have patience themselves when interacting with sick and ill human beings.

Why do a job if you dont like what it entails.