"Grateful for the majority of hard-working staff"

What a mixed bag. I attended the ED with abdominal pain and initially spent 25 hours on a chair waiting for a bed and it was a real eye opener. The difference in some of the nurses was quite incredible, 90% were superb and even tho the department was overrun always took the time to help as patients around me made requests.

One in particular stood out, Craig I believe, from ED Minors then later in AEC, he was incredible. Went over and above for all patients and done all he could to assist his colleagues. Heard him ask on many occasions what can I do to relieve some of your pressures, star man.

Unfortunately a few others were less enthused by their jobs and tried to duck every job they could, one even had to be reminded not to sleep on the job which was quite incredible considering how overrun the department was. But overall an incredibly busy department with great people.

From there I eventually went to C4 and again it was a similar story, the vast majority of staff outstanding, but again we had the few that were sharp with patients.

Communication was also lacking at times with waits of over 24 hours to get blood results which left more than me frustrated. I had the pleasure of being looked after by Jasmine on one of the days who treated myself and every patient with great care and clearly cared for those under her care. I watched as she missed breaks and was there long after her shift finished just to make sure we were all ok.

The night staff is where it really all changes on this ward and that's where the mixed bag comes in here. It was sergeant major style at times, and I felt sorry for some of the old folk around me who were shot down sharply for some of their requests which had been obliged by others.

I also had the strange experience of waking one night to find my bedside chair gone, but appeared back the next morning.  Now after 26 hours on a chair you'd think I would be happy not to see a chair again but as I was struggling to sleep it would have been handy. Saying that I took a stroll up the corridor and found a chair to sit on for 1/2 hour before returning to bed.

The next night was a similar experience. I was sitting on my chair whilst most others were sleeping, but shortly after getting into bed I was wakened by a nurse bumping my bed with the chair as she headed off with it again to the nurse room for the night. This time I asked about it and was asked "are you using it now?"  before another said "we will get you another one".

I went to the loo and when I returned I had a chair that was moved from the bed facing me at my bedside. Not sure it was sanitised first, so gave it a miss.

My overall experience is positive and thankful for the level of care received from the vast majority of overworked staff. It's just a pity some of their colleagues didn't at least do their own share.