"Cardiology Admission"

My husband was eventually admitted to Lugg ward via A&E following a collapse at home probably associated with an ongoing heart condition. We cannot fault the nursing staff & the care he received in all departments. The Cardiac Rehab Service was particularly good & they reassured us & kept us informed as to what was going on. One of the team has even contacted us since discharge.

The only comment we would make is that communication between the various departments & us as relatives could do with some improvement. On the Saturday following my husbands admission we rang the ward to see how he was only to be told that he was on his way to Worcester for an angiogram. We were aware this was to happen at some point but were advised it probably wouldn’t be until the following week. We again rang the ward at 2pm to be advised that he hadn’t actually had the angiogram as they couldn’t find his old notes from a previous heart bypass operation 22 years previously. We had no further contact from anyone until we again rang the ward at 18.50 only to be told that he was back on the ward & had in fact been there for approximately 40 minutes. At no point did anybody ring to tell us what was happening.

He was discharged to the departure lounge & we were advised not to come & pick him until at least 15.30 as he would need medication & a discharge letter. These didn’t arrive until about 17.30 which meant he had been sitting in the departure lounge for over 5 hours. Again we cannot fault the nursing staff in this department but feel it is a long time for frail, elderly & vulnerable people to sit & wait.

My husband has said that he actually quite enjoyed his stay in hospital as the nursing staff & care he received was brilliant! However he can’t say the same about the food!!!!