"My Grandad's care at Tameside Hospital"

My grandad was originally admitted to hospital to receive a blood transfusion.

He went in through cas, where the staff were professional, friendly, supportive and efficient. They explained every test, and why it was being done and then transferred him to the MAU to wait for a bed on ward 31.

MAU-awful experience!!! I was distressed and upset every time I visited my Grandad on this ward, so I can only imagine how he felt. Many of the nurses looking after him did not speak very good English, and seemed to make no effort in communicating with him (He was very deaf) they would often say something quickly and then walk away, he had no idea what was being said.

One day when I arrived, I found his sheets covered in old, dry blood from where the cannula had torn the skin from the back of his hand. He said the nurses hadn't even looked at it, it wasn't dressed and therefore an open wound, open to infection.

The 2nd day, I arrived to find his lips glued together with spittle, they had taken his teeth out the day before, and given NO oral care since. I had to obtain swabs from the trolley in the ward, and clean and swab his mouth myself.

His food was left on a tray which he couldn't reach, and collected untouched.

To be honest he had no appetite anyway and would have refused to eat it anyway, but I imagine this would be torture for a hunngry patient!

The icing on the cake was the nurse who told me and my mum that his heart rate had dropped to 35bpm overnight, and he was being watched by the CCU.

Myself and my mum had to point out that what she was saying was impossible, as he has a pacemaker, to which she repied "oh right does he?"

Absolutely appalled by the care he received on this ward, which is a great shame as I myself have been a patient on MAU and was treated wonderfully.

Finally, he was transferred to ward 31 where he died a few days later.

I have nothing but kind words and praise for the staff of ward 31.

They were so lovely to him, made time to speak to him, even have a giggle with him, something he appreciated greatly!

The night he died, we refused resus and asked them to stop, the ward sister actually hugged me and told me I was doing the right thing, and had made the kindest decision.

We were then allowed to sit with him in a private room as he died.

The ward sister herself cried, and hugged us both before we left.

I only wish I had remembered her name, she is a credit to the hospital, and one of the few nurses who clearly love their job and do it to the best of their ability each and every shift.

She made a traumatic and devestating event much easier than it could have been.