"Cotton Ward"

An ambulance took dad to Kings College Hospital. Dad had a stent. My brother asked how long dad would be in hospital, and was told he should be discharged within two days. Dad was admitted to Sam Oram ward. He looked fine, but a bit confused and complained of pain. The next day my dad told us that he was moved (in the middle of the night) to Cotton Ward, because he had a chest infection. (Which begs the question why my dad was moved to Cotton Ward given the sign at the door to Cotton ward said the ward was closed due to another infection.) When we saw Dad in Cotton Ward, the first thing he said, "The staff weren’t very nice at Cotton Ward, can I go back to Sam Oram Ward?" 

We were impressed by Sam Oram ward's nurses - we saw a Sam Oram ward's nurse take blood from Dad who left no mark on Dad. When we saw dad in Cotton Ward, he had lots of bruises on the back of his hands, and on his arms. I heard a Cotton Ward's nurse say it was very hard to do! I watched a Cotton Ward's nurse take Dad's pressure, I could see the reading was very low, and the nurse's response to my concern about that low reading was that they would come back later it might be better! The nurse didn't return while we were there. The following day a nurse (-we recognised from Sam Oram Ward-) was in Cotton Ward and when they saw Dad's pressure was low, they went looking for a doctor.

Total lack of communication on Cotton ward. For example, another patient would always be the one to tell us what the doctor said to my dad, or that my dad had been waiting for a long time to be moved or needing the toilet. When we asked staff about dad's health they always said we would have to ask a doctor. The nurses promised callbacks from doctors, but no sign of calls. We asked a Cotton Ward's nurse about dad's care plan, who said they would talk to the doctor and would update us when we next visit dad but when we approached this nurse on the ward at the reception desk, they waved us away, claimed it was a confidential phone call! It was near impossible to find a doctor who could update us. Incorrect information given by nursing staff on Cotton Ward. 

Sam Oram Ward excellent and caring. 

Cotton Ward appalling and dreadful.

Mum was relieved when she got a phone call on Friday from the hospital saying that my dad would be moved to a local hospital on the Monday.