"Not enough staff"

I was admitted to hospital after consultation with my consultant, to see if we could get on top of issues with high blood sugars and ketones which had been pushed up due to other medical problems. I was sat in CAU for 4 hours approx with one set of observations done, with what could very quickly become a medical emergency. And yeah I knew I was going down hill quicky, notified staff whom tried best to help.  

This is not a complaint about the nursing staff at all they did all they could in a very busy department with limited beds and very limited staff. I could have very easily been heading for CCU by time night staff came on. Due to the poor amount of support staff were getting that day. I feel these nurses need more support and fast. 

Also someone with a potential medical emergency should not be put in a clinic room to sleep overnight, to do own blood sugars and ketones. Telling nurse looking after you you are worried only for the nurse to be told by dr to tell me the day staff will deal with it, not ideal at all. Luckily I was ok by morning but again could have been a different story.

I did need all equipment back up.  Again not nurses fault they got no support when asked for a review. Need more staff. I have never felt so scared, anxious, worried in my life in a place that usually has helped so much in the past. I was so worried this admission I was not walking out a door I was going to carried out in a box! Honestly I even texted my husband to promise me to tell our son I loved him every night, if I did not get home! 

No issue with any of staff in that evening night or the 5 days I was in, (could have been sorted and home next day if on top of things sooner) . Never ever want to feel like that again. 

But for this to happen, I think the hospital needs more staff, especially during these busy times / heads of departments, vapidity managers, anyone  who can help should be helping the areas most in need at this time. Not just letting them cope and struggle resulting in more staff absence  then more pressure on department. Nurses and drs are only human and need help too. Maybe those who have worked up ladder sound return to the floor once a month to help!  To show staff they do care. Come and do a couple of bed baths, hang some fluids. Drug round, change a bed - my bed was not changed the who time I was in, including dry blood stain from cannula insertion!

I know these people are busy too but maybe if we factored in one day a month for each and every one of these individuals who have successfully made it up the careers ladder to help their fellow staff or junior staff. I think staff morale and better manager/staff relation would help! 

I never ever want to feel like that again, come to a place for help and made to feel a lot worse very quickly and being told we will get to you soon, when you know soon could of actually been too late!  

Medication was not written up correctly either, no-one could answer my questions without having to find someone else to find someone else again to get some answers.

Waldo people need to look at whole picture and when promised other teams not just diabetes will come see you need to make sure carried out. Not just ignored and discharged without seeing anyone to do with the actual initial problem that lead to this admission.

I believe the use of specialist nurses in hospital should be a priority too. Consultants and ward staff fantastic but they do not have time to sit and chat and explain things because they are so over worked and don’t have time! Need at least one specialist DSN in DGRI to be able to speak to patients and take time with these patients to help understand/ work out things! It is a life long condition but that week I was in I felt it was almost the end of my journey do not want to feel like that again. Need more nurses on the floor and doctors or nurses who can prescribe  basic medication.

5 hours I was promised I would get anti sickness and eventually got it very late at night after I had been really really sick for hours only bile was coming up at that point! I had seen two doctors during this time who both said would prescribe it and get nurses to give me a not done!  And no fun bringing up pure acid!  Please note staff on the ground. Help when needed, cancel a meeting if needed it can be rescheduled but a patients life can not be!