"I was appalled at the lack of care and attention..."

What I liked

I went to Stroud Hospital this morning (9/2/2012) to visit a friend and I was horrified by what I saw.

What could be improved

My friend was clearly extremely ill and in great discomfort and distress. As I walked into her cubicle a care assistant arrived in response to my friend's bell. My friend was begging for oxygen as she could not breathe. The carer said that there was no oxygen on the ward as they were waiting for the porter to bring it. I asked my friend how long she'd been waiting and she said 'about 20 minutes'. After waiting for another five minutes (with my friend becoming more and more distressed) I went to try to find a Staff Nurse. I asked for oxygen for my friend and was told that 'the porter's had to go to Gloucester'. I said that this wasn't good enough and that, if necessary I would get the oxygen from wherever it was.

There were two oxygen cylinders at the ward entrance but the staff nurse said they were empty and went off the ward in search of oxygen. Meanwhile a Care Assistant checked the cylinders which were, in fact, full, so eventually my friend got her oxygen.

Anything else?

I think this is an appalling way to treat a desperately ill patient - and quite unnecessary too. The nurse allocated to care for my friend should have known the oxygen cylinder was running low and have arranged another. It also begs the question as to what would happen if someone on Cashes Green Ward had a cardiac arrest.