"A worrying example of the NHS deterioration."

What I liked

My son was taken into GRH by ambulance, having collapsed with what turned out to be phneumonia. The emergency services were superb, I would like to thank them publicly for their care & consideration. However, the 7 days he was in the hospital, from 5 hours in A&E to his stays in 2 wards, his treatment & experiences were horrible. Nursing is about empathy & compassion, with just 2 exceptions all the staff we came into contact with were disinterested, unconcerned to the point of calloussness, and made no effort to calm & reassure a frightened young man. Too much happened that was below minimum care to describe on here, including moving him from a "clean" ward to one that was closed due to Noro virus, but the final insult came when he left to come home, from a ward closed to the public, and found his trainers missing. He came out, with no money or chance of being collected, wearing some towelling flipflops & had to taxi home (£35) to have me meet him with the cash - this is someone who had been on oxygen for 6 days until the moment of departure! During the time he was there we saw no signs of overwork., no staff seem to move at more than an amble, and chatting was the order of the day. I myself went online imediately & arranged private health cover, I could not risk being sent into the so called care of GRH. Dirty floors & wash basins, and still having sickness breaking out on wards, meals & drinks not brought into his side room, no information on his treatment or condition, an awful experience & very worrying.

What could be improved

If the compassion & dedication to care isn't there what can you do?

Anything else?

I would never choose GRH , if there was the option of say Lydney or one of the UKSH hopsitals such as Emersons Green, where the standard of care & treatment is so good.