"Poor patient confidentiality"

I went to the Minor Injuries Unit at Helston Community Hospital on the evening of the 26th of June.

Reception was closed and no-one answered the call button.

We sat and waited with many other patients in the small, airless waiting room. No windows could be opened and there was a flashing, fluorescent light. As this could trigger a migraine or epilepsy, I was forced to wait in the corridor.

I asked a passing staff person if they could turn off the flashing light and they embarrassed me by asking all the people in the room if it could be turned off. They did not seek a maintenance person.

We waited ages and, eventually, someone came out of the treatment room and started to take confidential information, such as name, date of birth, address and medical reason for attendance in front of everyone else! How rude and unprofessional!

No explanation or communication was attempted on waiting times.

The staff person went back into the room and we were left waiting for ages.

I attempted to find someone to tell us how long the wait would be and headed for the reception area of a nearby ward. This happened to back onto the treatment room. The door was open and a nurse was sitting writing notes. They asked me if I needed help and explained that they were writing up the notes of 5 previous patients and would then continue to take people in. It would have been nice to be told this and not have to seek out the information by accident.

I informed the people waiting and they thanked me.

When it was time to be called in, insult was added to injury when the nurse asked if the man behind us could also be taken into the same room for his vitals to be taken. Again, how rude and unprofessional. It breaks the code of nursing in treating everyone with dignity.

I am appalled by the situation.

Staff need training in confidentiality, courtesy and communication.