"Comments on 3 weeks in Fanshawe"

Anything else?

I spent 3 weeks in Fanshawe in late November/early December last year. I am prompted to write to echo the previous comments about this ward and its staff. I was extremely well cared for after spending 7 weeks in the general with pneumonia. The ward is clean, the food is excellent and the staff were magnificent. A small complaint about a few of the HCA's in terms of attitude, but in general nurses were excellent, facilities are good and I was discharged after much needed rehab in good spirits.

I note the following - which does not reflect on the excellent care provided, in fact in some ways makes it more difficult to maintain high standards.

1, Dementia patients with no other illness should not be accomodated on a rehab ward.

2. Physiotherapists do not have sufficient time to spend with each patient due to staff shortages. The excellent gym facilities were only available (to me - because supervision was required in case of a fall) on a daily basis for about 5 minutes. More time in the gym would have meant earlier discharge and bed availability for a new patient.

My sincere best wishes to all the ward staff, especially to one nurse in particular.

If I have to go in to hospital again - Fanshawe is where I would like to end up!

All stays in hospital are personal and often emotional - the criticism in the Francis report does not reflect my recent experiences.

John Chandler

The box below does not allow me to enter fanshawe ward