"Poor experience at Will Adams Ward Medway Hospital"

My mother was taken by Ambulance to A n E at Medway. She suffers from R/A and COPD. She had an infection and breathing difficulties. She is physically very weak at 78 years of age. She was treated superbly by both consultants nurses and Doctors during her stay at A n E.

Unfortunately this was not the same during her 11 day stay on Will Adams Ward. Firstly she was give an infusion to build her immune system. A nurse was in charge of the infusion. This nurse brought out three bottles and hung them out all at once. My mother's blood pressure went up and the infusion had to be stopped for a period of time. Because the other two bottles were left out of the fridge they could not be used and had to be thrown away. The nurse became agitated with my mother for their own failings. Having had the same procedure in the infusion unit. The same due care and attention was not evident.

During the mornings everybody had their bedsheets changed. My mother's was constantly ignored. She had to ask other nurses, whose job was not changing bedsheets, for help. They shook their head in disbelief. During the evenings my mother was awoken by one of the nurses by a slap on the nose in order for her to take her medication. I complained to one of the day nurses on duty. She said she would report it as it was agency workers during the evening. Apart from a few decent nurses at the Will Adams Ward the rest seemed unresponsive and uncaring.

My mother was then transferred into the discharge lounge for 2 days. The evening experience was exactly the same. Getting a glass of water from one of the nurses became very difficult. My mother has been in and out of Medway hospital in the last 12 months staying at the Bronte ward on several occasions. But never had a cause to complain as she feels she was looked after with warmth and care required.