"Disappointing"

What I liked

Nothing at all

What could be improved

Absolutely everything. The reception staff are rude and do not respect patients privacy. While I was waiting in the A@E waiting area, there was a patient that came in with mental health issues. I actually sat and listened to the easily heard conversation, firstly between the paramedic, then between the reception staff. They were laughing, and making jokes about the patient, and sighing and moaning because they had to deal with this person 'again', all the while me and two other pts were able to hear. They treated this person with no respect, no privacy, and made the waiting room well aware that they were not amused this person was here. The patient was however, thankfully oblivious to this as they were very quietly sitting in the corner, making no fuss whatsoever. Which made it even harder to accept the disgusting way they were treated.

Then, my turn to see the dr, very good at explaining, and asking what he needed to. He explained the treatment that I would need and that the nurses would sort me out, a slight reprieve from the waiting room fiasco. Then the nurse came, who was more interested in the conversation she was having with her colleague, did not even make eye contact, was very very rude when asked any questions. Then to my astonishment she started discussing with her colleague about another patient, their name, why they were there, what was happening to them, what they were doing, and to top it off, finished by saying the dr's did not think the pt was going to make it!!!! Absolutely disgraceful, and quite frankly appalling and for all they know I could have known this pt.

Anything else?

Well, I could say that I hope that this was a one off, but it's not, I have had many experiences at mk hospital, whether that be myself, children, friends etc.. and I would say out of maybe 20 visits, I could probably only recount maybe 1 satisfactory visit. I believe that A&E nursing staff need some severe retraining with regards to pt confidentiality, and equality and diversity, particularly regarding discrimination towards patients with mental health issues.

I know they can be so much better, and care for MH pts without the need for discrimination because I have seen it work. I worked in a hospital where the frontline staff, (nurses, dr's and admin) were and still get constant training from the AHTT, ASTI, and Community teams in the best way to care for this group of patients, and the attitude the consultants in the department had was and I qoute 'whether you come in once a year or five times a day, I would expect my staff to treat you exactly the same as if it were your first admission, with the upmost dignity and respect'

If Milton Keynes hospital adopted this policy, things could be improved 100% It would also encourage a better working partnership between MKGHFT and MKPCT