This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Staff have given up

Story from nhs.uk

"Staff have given up"

About: Derriford Hospital / Accident and emergency

Not enough money in the hospital to run officiently. I believe the staff are dedicatedly but frustrated that they cannot give their full attention to their patients. Parking terrible. Not enough drop off parking. Not enough wheelchairs. Many patients complains about the same things but just told. NHS don’t have the money. Staff have also agreed with the complaints but can’t do anything about it so they say sorry and walk away.

Personally I have Planta Fasciitus in my right foot . Arthritis in my neck, hands, wrists and hips. I’m 70yrs old. I am under the hospital at the moment because I fell and have broken my left ankle and am in plaster. Nowhere to park, had to get out of car in the road with a walker whist my daughter went to find parking and my husband queued for a wheelchare. A patent had to help me onto the pavement as I couldn’t get up the curb. Eventually a voluntary worker found a wheelchair and took me to the fracture clinic but couldn’t leave the chair. I had to go to X-ray and told the nurse I couldn’t walk because of my problems and needed a wheelchair. She said sorry I can’t help you you will have to get there best way you can.

I was in agony . It took me ages to get there meanwhile my husband was still waiting for a wheelchair.!!

What is going on . Another lady waited so long that when she arrived at her department was told ‘sorry you’ve missed your appointment’ and has to wait for another. Disgusting. Please don’t give up on us. I know you are frustrated and under pressure.

More about:
nhs.uk logo
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Derriford Hospital 5 years ago
Derriford Hospital

Submitted on 19/07/2018 at 11:26
Published on nhs.uk at 12:06

Jo Woolley, Accredited Security Management Specialist, Facilities Department, has responded to say:

In relation to your comment regarding insufficient parking, during the reconfiguration of the front of the hospital the Trust sought to accommodate a range of patient needs by catering for all different types of private and public transport.

A drop off/pick up lane has been provided for private cars and private hire vehicles at the front of the hospital, along with another drop off area in car park F, opposite the multi-story car park.

Users of car park F have the option to use the patient transport buggy, kindly run for us by volunteers, which will take them to the main entrance and then back to the car park.

If a patient is for any reason unable to use the buggy, a member of the car park management team can come along and help with wheelchair transport.

Unfortunately, the space on site is extremely limited.

This is something we have no control over, and as such, we are only able to provide a finite number of parking spaces, and we do our utmost within these limits, to ensure that everyone’s needs are catered for.

As part of the reconfiguration works, the hackney carriage stop was placed near the hospital entrance as a result of information and requirements given in responses to a public transport surveys undertaken as part of the design for the Interchange.

Taxi usage has grown by 40% since the taxi rank was moved to the new location, many of these passengers are wheelchair users and find it the most convenient way to access the Hospital.

You also mentioned that there were not enough wheelchairs.

The Trust recently purchased a number of new wheelchairs for the main entrance area.

Unfortunately, patients and visitors take them away and the majority of times, they do not bring them back, despite us introducing a deposit scheme to encourage people to return them.

We do work hard to ensure that wheelchairs are always available, and the Trust carries out regular sweeps of the hospital to bring any discarded chairs back to the main entrances.

For patients with mobility difficulties, arrangements can be made for a porter to collect them from the entrance to assist them to their appointment.

This can be arranged prior to the appointment date through the relevant clinical department, or on the day via main reception or the parking desk.

Should you wish us to investigate your concerns in more detail, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 01752 439884 or 01752 432564. Alternatively, please email the team at: plh-tr.PALS@nhs.net

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k