"Some appallingly poor care"

Highly professional treatment and care overshadowed by instances of very poor care and poor communication.

The vast majority of staff were wonderful and were doing their very best to provide excellent care but, all of us, patients and staff alike are being badly let down by insufficient staffing levels which I believe contributes to the instances poor care and communication.

My husband had a post-surgery a complication became apparent in the recovery room. The surgery had taken considerably longer than planned. I was contacted and told not to rush to the hospital and that I would be called back. Two hours later I called the number on the receiving ward only to be told that they did not have him and they couldn’t contact the recovery room and they didn't know where he was.

I waited a further two hours for someone to call. I was by this time absolutely frantic with worry. I had no idea how to find out where he was or what was happening. Because he was asking where I was, a nurse called me some 4 hours after the initial call. To say I was upset by this time is an understatement. QUEH almost had another patient!

As carer for my husband I was appalled at some of the things that happened to him as a patient in QUEH Glasgow.

Having a night shift worker screaming in his ear during the night.

Having an open wound in the groin area and being left for hours in soiled/wet pads despite having asked for assistance to go to the toilet and as no help was forthcoming he had soiled himself. He then repeatedly asked to be cleaned and changed but this did not happen until the next shift started. This was degrading and very upsetting for him. One of the few times I've ever seen him in tears.

Repeated requests for assistance with toileting being put off frequently for an hour or more.

Not receiving appropriate care to prevent an overnight hypo until I intervened.

An attempt by a staff member to force toast into his mouth to prevent a hypo when he couldn't eat because of nausea.

I so often felt powerless to help him despite reporting my concerns to staff. I personally could not provide the care he needed nor could I force overworked staff to provide better care.

He says he will never return to QUEH for treatment. I wouldn't want to either.

Poor instances of care lead to longer hospital stays which benefits no one.