"Appalling care"

Anything else?

Husband admitted and told he had mass on pancreas. Cosultant gastroenterologist, took husband alone into a room and told him he had cancer and the prognosis was very poor. Has this man such a cavalier disregard for his patient's feelings that he couldn't wait until there were relatives with him before he broke this earth shattering news?? Then, 2 days later, told him he wasn't sure if it was cancer...building his hopes up uneccesarily (it was cancer). Family tried to speak with consultant to no avail, ward staff were extremely unhelpful in facillitating this. Ended up speaking to junior house officer, who wan't even professional enough to take us into a room for privacy, we spoke in the corridor. While this consultant and his team may have excellent clinical skills, their consideration for their patients' is non-existent, I sincerely hope neither I, nor any of my family find myself under their care.

The nursing staff? loud, constantly shouting across the nurses' station to each other with no consideration for their sick patients. Male charge nurse stood in doorway and shouted handover to the late staff, everyone could hear this confidential patient information. On discharge, the nurse gave directions on how often my husband should take his Paracetamol!! This is someone who has just been given a diagnosis of cancer!! There was absolutely no advice given on follow up advice (there is a Macmillan centre within the hospital)...would this have been to much to ask? He wasn't told what would happen next or what his follow up would be.

Absolutely third-rate 'care' from a supposed centre of excellence. What a difference to the Hammersmith, a real centre of excellence where the doctors and nurses treat their patients with the utmost respect and consideration.