"The nursing staff were friendly ..."

What I liked

The nursing staff were friendly if not a little harrassed. The Matrons were efficient, but helpless

What could be improved

The lack of communication. My partner was ambulanced in to A&E with gall stones - waited in SAU for 2 days before it was decided what would be done about his pancreatitis (which has been diagnosed in A&E).

There were far too many people to deal with, senior surgeons were like buses - none for hours and then 3 at once but they didn't communicate a decision, each time a new DR came along, the whole history had to be repeated and still no decision. No-one read the notes, it took 12 hours for the ultrasound pictures to be looked at - and when they were we never saw that surgeon again!

Waited all weekend in a gastroenterology unit where the food was absolutely disgusting listening to patronising OTs only to be told that they don't operate on Mondays! No guarantee that it will be Tuesday either, "We'll see what we can do".

From the beginning we asked every surgeon and Matron for a transfer to Poole as he was 50 miles from home and not one person came back with an answer "We'll see what we can do" or "We'll speak to the transfer team". Would be nice to be told a definite no rather than feel ignored.

So now, partner still 50 miles from home, no idea when the op will be, next week, week after who knows. Utterly terrible communication. Must improve.