"I had surgery a few months ago ..."

What I liked

I had surgery a few months ago and was an in-patient for a week. My surgery should have been straightforward but there was a hiccup and everything was explained very clearly to me with reassurance of any follow-ups needed..All the staff were brilliant - helpful, polite, kind, caring, considerate and good-humoured (even though clearly overworked!). The ward, as far as I could tell, was kept very clean and all the staff appeared to wash their hands thoroughly regularly. I do have one hygiene complaint and one other (see below). I had no bad experience of the hospital or staff. I have had other family members as inpatients in the hospital and they have had excellent care and treatment too.

What could be improved

After surgery I was still wearing a dried-blood-soaked nightdress several hours later and this was only changed when

I requested it - I feel that this should be a priority to make a patient feel better. I shouldn't need to ask and even if it takes more than one fresh garment because of staining, that should not make any difference - it should still be changed.

I also feel that if a patient requires assistance with feeding (especially the elderly or disabled) then that should be considered as part of the nursing care and time should be made available for it. Nourishment and nutrition are as much a part of care/nursing as taking temperature/blood pressure etc.