"I felt there was no patient choice, respect, or dignity"

I spent two weeks in Glasgow Royal. Some staff, who are in caring professions, seemingly couldn’t care less and exhibited what I felt was bullying behaviour.

My worst personal experience was two members of staff knocking loudly on toilet door as I was in. After opening door they shoved towels in my face and told me to shower. After declining because it wasn’t safe to do so or appropriate time, they again told me I needed to. They hadn’t made my bed in days yet it seemed a great time to do this when I had been throwing up and was dizzy. It was odd. Forceful. I was seriously unwell. They then followed me back to my room and made me stand as they made the bed not uttering a word. I felt so awkward and after they left I burst into tears. I felt there was no patient choice, respect, or dignity.

I listened to some staff laughing over patients details at handover. Questioning why a patient needed a walking stick. Another was sniggering laughing over someone from China and making COVID references. I felt it was absolutely disgraceful that this is how they talk about patients/public. Speaking about another staff member's pronunciation then verbally abusing them, calling them names. Making inappropriate comments with regards to a staff member being a certain religion. As I was struggling to get meds, laying there having to listen to people I put trust into. Why is it funny to them?

Staff members brought sick bowls really slowly. Giving one at a time. My family kept asking for more and I was spewing! Pain meds were never at regular times. I was also contradicted around offers of medication.

Also toast? No toast! A roll and jam is what I was offered for breakfast. I asked why no toast as it's all I could eat. Some days depending who was on I’d get it, other times not. Very inconsistent

Out of all the staff there was one person who actually cared and took the time. Showed care and compassion, I think they came from the stoma ward. They had seen I hadn’t showered in days and got me things like hair dryer, things I needed to feel supported. Hair stuff, as I hadn’t expected to be in there for so long. Other members of staff just left me and I felt like they could not care less. The following day or two days later I asked for a hair dryer to shower to be told there is none

Toilet’s were rarely flushed, often numerous pots of urine, laying around the bathroom in different spots. Very hygienic, not!

Some doctors are very rude and there were nurses who don’t introduce themselves, it's small things to build patient relationship and trust. They left me wondering, waiting without answers. Delay after delay. It's called communication and would be nice to know what's going on. When you haven’t seen a doctor after your first surgery is failed it would be nice to speak to someone.

I then was moved to the General Medicine Ward. I was there for hours on my own, couldn’t turn the light off or do anything due to pain. I buzzed and the handover of seeing new staff weren’t very helpful. No introducing themselves, I was then left for hours in a bright room and just hoped I’d see it to next day. No help or nothing Just dumped.

I had to say to staff about fluids as I wasn’t getting much foods/liquids due to throwing up everything. There was a lot of periods of gaps when not using cannula which then resulted in a horrible pain when a nurse went to use. I then became stressed as prior to this removal I had been told I needed two canulas for the ERCP procedure. No one explained why but it took a doctor, trying to find a location he could use which was the most awkward place on my wrist! I asked could I not just keep the current one and just have one in to be told no I needed both. Well due to inactivity that one came out my arm and they never replaced it, so I did just have one for the procedure but it was a bit traumatising having to go through all that.

A nurse also had stepped on my cannula at one point, she barely said sorry and couldn’t leave the room quick enough. It really scared me as I had to tell her! I’d dread to think if I was elderly or unable to speak up etc.

On discharge day there was a rude nurse who was grudging antibiotics for a UTI. Did she want me back in another life-threatening situation?

They also said they couldn’t provide heat pads, which seemed odd as they had them next door.

Some doctors were very rude in their approach and manner.

There were two lovely nurses/auxiliaries who took care of me well. They always spoke to me about what they were doing. It helped ease my anxiety. I knew meds would be regular and they’d actually talk to me about my day which made a huge difference as its the small things.

Cleaning was more regularly and changing of bed in the ward, unlike in surgical assessment unit where they left for days. The would speak daily and do a good job making sure room was clean and comfortable. The cleaning staff and another member of staff looked after me best, speaking to me and treating me like a Person.

I had been on co-codamol and other stuff which causes constipation, to then be told after procedure that I needed to pass bowel to be able to leave. No one had given me laxatives whilst on these meds which had been daily for two weeks so for long time had been left not going!