"Lack of professionalism"

My wife was taken to Ninewells Hospital with a suspected CVA via A&E. To be fair, she only had a small droop to her mouth, and her speech came and went, so the A&E staff tentatively diagnosed a TIA. That was the last time I was given any information on my wife's condition for six days. She was transferred to ward six, where despite repeated request for information neither she nor I were told anything except to be told that she was "fine", or sleeping.

I requested to be put in touch with the doctor in charge of her care, and because I couldn't get into the hospital until four in the afternoon was told that they're very busy, or that there was no doctor available at that time. I was then told that they could give me an update via telephone during the day when they were available. I'm still waiting.

Meanwhile my wife was ignored, left in a precarious position on her bed after requesting help, sometimes for over twenty minutes and been subjected to a total indifference by some of the nurses on a particular team when it comes on shift. Granted, there are some very good nurses on that ward, but there are also some very lazy, indifferent, uncaring ones too. There are also nurses who stand watching, doing nothing while the good ones try to cope with what needs to be done - on their own. Others seem to be more interested in talking about what went on during off-shift hours than tending to patient's needs.

After having a serious word with one of the nurses, who actually cared, I finally was given a proper update on my wife's condition SIX DAYS after she was admitted. The next day, after I had my wife asking me to come and take her home because of the way she was being ignored and dismissed, I went in to see what was going on. While I was there a junior doctor appeared and gave me pretty much the same information I had received from the nurse reading from a computer screen. Problem with that was this doctor had only been on the ward for the first time that day, and had only read my wife's notes shortly before. They had not even met my wife to that point so had no idea who she was, let alone had proper knowledge of my wife's condition or treatment.

I am frustrated and disgusted with the way that my wife has been treated, the lack of communication and information is not acceptable. The notable absence of empathy, respect and professionalism by some of the staff angers me on my wife's behalf.

My wife has told me that she feels as though she's a slab of meat on a butcher's hook, and from what I have seen she is exactly right  to feel this way. If this treatment continues, I can see her exercising her right to discharge herself and I will fully support her. The NHS is supposed to be the Caring Profession. Not from what I've seen here.