"Dejected"

An emergency admission to Coyle Ward for orthopaedic surgery has proved to be a profoundly negative experience and one that I hope others do not experience. The vast majority of nursing staff do try to provide good care but the basics are often overlooked and leaves you wanting to head for the exit as soon as possible. There is a general lack of communication between staff which leads to conflicting advice/plans which is deeply frustrating when having to already deal with an injury and its consequences. I would strongly advise anyone who will be requiring any length of stay to make provision for relatives/friends to visit as often as possible to assist with washing, dressing and food. Tthere was often no meals left for patients. We were advised that the night shift could contact the canteen after 9pm to request a meal when we had been left without but staff were unable to do this and did apologise profusely. Nutrition is vitally important for healing, and it was sadly overlooked regularly during my stay. I have the greatest respect for doctors in the current climate but again found the Drs I did see were poor with regard to providing answers to questions, additionally several mistakes were made with my discharge and incorrect information was entered which ideally should be checked with patients. Being accused of already having my prescription medication that I was to take home and losing/concealing it was awful as a nurse rifled through my private belongings without my consent ( it was later found somewhere ?? but an apology was not forthcoming). During my follow up appointments in the fracture clinic I have encountered some wonderful staff who really do try to improve the patient experience, however once again conflicting advice and feeling rushed with little/no opportunity to ask questions has left me very concerned about my long term recovery as I have lost all faith in this Hospital.