"The procedure unit and Juniper ward are..."

What I liked

I was initially admitted for day surgery with a maximum of one overnight stay. My surgery did not go as planned and I ended up staying for three nights.

The nursing care I received in the procedure unit was superb. There were clearly enough nurses and they were both efficient and caring. I felt very safe in the procedure unit and reassured that I was receiving the best care possible.

The houseman who was responsible for my clinical care was excellent. He took care to engage me and keep me informed, making me feel like a human being and not just a patient.

What could be improved

Because the procedure unit is not open at weekends, I had to be moved to Juniper ward on Friday afternoon and spent my final night there. The contrast with the procedure unit could not be more marked.

There did not appear to be sufficient nurses and those who were on duty did not compare well with the procedure unit nursing staff. One patient was told there were no tissues "because of the cuts", while I was refused an additional pillow because "we haven't got enough",

Buzzers went unanswered for long periods of time and I got the distinct impression that patients were seen as a nuisance and their comfort was a long way down the nurses' list of priorities.

The only thing that redeemed my stay was the very kind healthcare assistant who made me a cup of tea in the early hours of the morning when I was unable to sleep.