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"My partner's treatment"

About: Inpatient (AMH) / Cusworth ward

(as a relative),

My partner was recently admitted to Cusworth Ward and the standards in there really are appalling. The room he was placed in had water all over the bathroom floor that had toilet roll floating in it. The water stays on the floor constantly and he had to wait days for the issue to be rectified. The bathroom also smells like raw sewage meaning he has been forced to sleep with a blanket over his face to try and mask the smell. 

There has been a lack of effective communication on the ward from staff, meaning my partner has not had the full terms of his section explained to him. Staff have been giving conflicting information to him repeatedly which is causing a lot of distress. 

Many of his personal belongings have also gone missing. I understand that he is not allowed wires in his room, however if staff are confiscating these items from him, surely they have a duty to then ensure they are stored safely? I have had to buy multiple wires so he can charge his phone as his keep disappearing. 

Before admission, I wrote a hospital passport to ensure the staff would have plenty of background information to help understand my partner and his needs, yet when asked, his main nurse hadn’t even seen the paperwork I had made because someone had not given it to them to read.

Initially when he first got admitted I asked one of the nurses if there could be some reasonable adjustments made regarding my partner’s sensory issues and was told that they could facilitate this, however this has also not been happening. My partner has been having to miss meals because staff lock the dining room after 30 minutes, despite being told that my partner would be going to eat after everyone had finished. 

My partner was told he would be seeing a doctor for a couple of health issues. The staff said they would arrange for this to happen the following day, however this did not happen and I had to ask during visiting hours why this had not happened. 

My partner was also outside for a cigarette break. He is allowed to be out for 15 minutes, however was left standing outside ringing the doorbell with other inpatients for between 40 - 60 minutes, unable to re-enter the building as staff did not answer the doorbell.

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Responses

Response from Paula Thompson, Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust 4 days ago
Paula Thompson
Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 07/08/2025 at 15:09
Published on Care Opinion at 16:40


Dear Mjb0303

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback regarding the standard of the bedroom environment and the poor communication you experienced on one of our wards. Please accept my sincere apologies for both your partner’s and your own experience, this falls short of the standards we expect and aspire to deliver.

Our aim is to provide high-quality, individualised care that supports improved mental wellbeing and facilitates discharge back into the community as soon as it is safely possible. We fully recognise that admission to hospital can be an extremely distressing and anxiety-provoking experience, both for the individual and their family and the last thing we want is to add to that distress.

We would be grateful if you would consider meeting with either the Matron or myself so we can inform and update you on the actions that have already been taken and what is being put in place moving forward. By working together, we hope to prevent further issues and ensure that your partner receives the appropriate care and treatment they need.

Kind regards

Paula Thompson

Service Manager, Doncaster Acute Directorate

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