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Noise on ward

Posted By Rapana321

"Noise on ward"

About: Western General Hospital / Emergency Surgical Admissions Western General Hospital / General Surgery Western General Hospital / Medicine of the elderly

(as the patient),

I was in the Edinburgh Western Hospital Ward 5*7, there are four patients in each room, all requiring surgery in the morning. It’s 10.45 pm and the door is open. The nurses are sitting at their station just outside, they are chatting and laughing and listening to the radio. A nurse walks in to dispose of something in the bin, the clatter would wake the dead. The nurse leaves with the door still open and Light and Noise coming in. It was a total nightmare.

The 4 patients all attached to drips, when empty or battery dies the noise wakes everyone. This noise can be heard at the station and no one enters the room to stop it. The older frail patients have no idea how to press the bell, I end up ringing my Bell for them. I’m asked what I want. I highlight the noise going off at the machine. The same thing happens when my drip feeder goes off, no response.

I can remember years back, at ten p.m. the lights went out in the ward. The nurses always addressed these drip feeders promptly and spoke in whispers. They had respect for the elderly ill patients.

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Responses

Response from Ana Mezzomo, Patient Experience Officer, Patient Experience Team, NHS Lothian last week
Ana Mezzomo
Patient Experience Officer, Patient Experience Team,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 22/08/2025 at 16:05
Published on Care Opinion at 16:05

Dear Rapana321,

Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience of care at the Western General Hospital.

I am truly sorry to hear about the significant noise and disruption you encountered late at night, making it difficult to rest while staying on the ward. This must have been very frustrating and unsettling, especially as you and the other patients were preparing for surgery the next day. NHS Lothian staff are committed to providing a caring, comfortable, and respectful environment for all patients, and I am sorry that this was not your experience on this occasion.

Please be assured that your feedback has been passed on to the Management Team at the Western General Hospital for review and reflection.

Thank you once again for sharing your story, and I wish you a smooth and speedy recovery.

Best wishes,

Ana Mezzomo

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Update posted by Rapana321 (the patient)

Hi Anna

I was pleased that you read my comments on the noise within ward 57, if it would be of help to your addressing this noise issue I can forward a short video highlighting this fact.

I’m pleased to say the surgery went well, it did take several nights to get back into my usual sleep pattern.

Response from Leanne Whyte, Clinical Nurse Manager, Surgery, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian 5 days ago
We are preparing to make a change
Leanne Whyte
Clinical Nurse Manager, Surgery, Western General Hospital,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 25/08/2025 at 15:32
Published on Care Opinion at 15:34

Hi Rapana321,

Thank you for sharing this experience. It is far from ideal and I appreciate the need to sleep, particularly when you are not feeling 100%. The wards are, of course, very busy environments and this level of activity can continue throughout the night, particularly in an admissions ward like ward 57. However, we would certainly expect some consideration to be given to patients already in bed trying to sleep. I'm so sorry that this didn't happen for you and you had a very disturbed night. I have spoken to the Senior Charge Nurse and she absolutely agrees that this is not what we would expect for any of our patients and apologises that this was your experience. Of course, there are many reasons why machines bleep and noise is inevitable but we totally agree that clattering bins and loud voices are not acceptable. She is going to review all the bins in the rooms as they should have a 'soft close' mechanism on them, so she will action this if they do not and reiterate your experience to her staff so they are more considerate in the furture,

I'm pleased to hear your surgery went well and you are recovering.

Many thanks,

Leanne Whyte

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