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"Disappointing experience"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Xrays and Scans

(as a service user),

I had occasion to visit this hospital as a friend had been called in for a CT scan. 

I dropped her at the front of the hospital whilst I tried to find parking.

First impression wasn’t good. Seemed all a bit chaotic.

Found parking and let me list my experience

Temporary fencing, debris and litter surrounding the car park

Entry to the main hospital was through a scaffold system ! 

Patients outside the main entrance, dressed in dressing gowns, one man in socks, lots of smoking coughing and spitting.

Two automatic doors for entry, one not working the other malfunctioning, queue of people trying to get in.

One inside went to notice board looking for the X-ray, scanning dept.

Don’t be silly, nothing so simple, it’s called Imaging! Volunteer directed me to the correct dept. ‘ oh just go through the corridor marked Children’s hospital and head towards the back green wall, you will find it there’. Seriously what’s wrong with a sign that directs me to X-ray, scanning. Progress? 

Told my friend is one the first floor facility. Lift , yes. Went to go into lift to be told by man inside the lift ‘ quickly press the floor you want to go to and the keypad outside the lifts’. Ok, why, - there’s no buttons inside the lifts! If this is the way to go then educate us please. Man went in to tell me he had gone to the 9th floor because he didn’t know he had to press the aforementioned keypad.

Deposited at the first floor, walk along looking for the ‘Imaging’ dept, noticed the nuclear dept had a sign outside their door saying ‘ X-ray scanning, next door along’. Wonder if the staff in that dept are sick if directing people, who are lost.

Imaging dept itself, seriously is this a new hospital. Litter in the floor, dirty plastic cups on the tables, water dispenser not working. Columns bashed about and skirting coming off. Haven’t they heard about column corners to protect from trolleys, etc.

Looking down, from the open corridors into the ‘Atrium’ wondered if anyone has thought of safety issues. Wouldn’t take much for people to throw themselves off . The atrium itself is an expensive empty space, the someone has decided to add some Lego windows in a wall - design feature?

Left the dept after my friend was finished.

I decided to use the Ladies facilities on the ground floor. Oh dear, dirty floor, toilet paper on the cubicle floor. No hook for coat or bag, so had to put my handbag on the floor. Very sanitary .

Walked back to car park, past the mess and then slipped in mud at the car park and I landed heavily on my back with my foot bent. My coat ( new one, second wearing) covered in mud as were my shoes, gloves and handbag.

I am now at home, in pain with swollen feet, knees and wrists. I can see a trip to my local A and E if this doesn’t settle! 

All in all a horrid nasty experience of a visit to Scotland’s premier hospital.

My sympathies to the wonderful NHS staff who encounter this each day whilst trying to maintain a professional service. 

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 13/03/2019 at 15:50
Published on Care Opinion at 18:47


picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Agitated Lady

Thank you for getting in touch.

I am very sorry to hear about you and your friend’s experience at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. I hope that you are ok after your fall.

You have raised a number of issues which I have passed to our site Facilities Team. I have asked that they respond to these issues.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Update posted by Agitated lady (a service user)

In reply to Nicole McInally, I have actually broken a bone in my ankle, called an aversion fracture, I believe.

I have been attended, superbly, by my local hospital the RAH in Paisley.

I now have to wear fixed walker boot for 5 weeks.

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 18/03/2019 at 08:35
Published on Care Opinion at 11:40


picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Agitated Lady

I am very sorry to hear about your ankle.

There are ongoing cladding replacement projects taking place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and as such, scaffolding and heras (temporary) fencing has been erected to maintain safety. Litter is picked up/swept up on a daily basis (7 days per week) by our Grounds contractors and bins are present throughout the campus and are emptied daily. It is acknowledged that litter can accumulate and be blown into certain areas, I am sorry that you had to witness this unsightly presence.

Some of our patients are permitted to leave their wards and commonly can be seen within the hospital grounds. As you may be aware, smoking on hospital grounds is not acceptable and directly contravenes the Board’s policy; however, there are unfortunately a number of challenges in enforcing this that are inherent across the hospital campus, and indeed our other sites. Despite clear signage, throughout each hospital, the issuing of guidance notes and smoke detectors on some of our entrances, we have not been able to fully prevent smoking on hospital grounds. It would be important to highlight that, whilst it is illegal to smoke in the hospital building, it is not illegal within the grounds. NHS Scotland smoking related policy prohibits the use of shelters on hospital sites, however, Scottish Government legislation has been approved to support smoke-free grounds. This is currently going through the required procedures at Parliament and it is hoped that this will assist in reducing smoking activity within the campus.

There has been issues with the main revolving door operating correctly over the last week, and as such, the two side wheelchair accessible doors have been utilised to permit access. Whilst it is intended that the doors are used in a single direction fashion, this is not always our experience, however we have not been made aware of any queues of people trying to pass through, and this will be monitored.

Signage is in place guiding people to the Imaging Department. There are actually three departments on site (one within the Royal Hospital for Children) and two within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The Welcome Guides provide useful assistance in guiding people to the department, however if they are occupied the signage/wayfinding would provide assistance. I am sorry that the local signage referred to “x-ray” and acknowledge that this has added to the confusion.

The lifts within Queen Elizabeth University Hospital use smart technology to get people to the correct levels as quickly as possible. You press the button panel outside the lift and it will direct you to the appropriate lift that will get you to your required floor as quick as possible.

The corridors surrounding the lower levels of the hospital are open to the atrium. The design is fully compliant with building standards and has been fully risk assessed. The coloured interior areas that you can view from the atrium are a design feature for the office pods that are present on the levels.

I am very sorry that you found the Ladies toilet in an unsatisfactory condition. Our toilets are cleaned, and ongoing checks (and remedial action) occurs throughout the day. I note your point about the non provision of coat hooks on the rear of each door and will discuss this further with colleagues to ascertain whether there is a suitable design that can be installed.

If you have cause to visit our hospital in the future and wish to discuss your experience, please ask the atrium receptionist to alert a Facilities Manager, and it is hoped we can respond or assist you directly.

Kind Regards

Mandy Machell

Deputy Site Facilities Manager - Business

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Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 19/03/2019 at 16:07
Published on Care Opinion at 16:37


picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Agitated Lady

Would you mind emailing me at Nicole.McInally@ggc.scot.nhs.uk with your personal details (e.g. your name and telephone number) so that we can look into your accident further?

Many thanks

Nicole

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