"Post op care ward 13"

Was in ward 13 for 24 hours following surgery. All medical staff excellent. All domestic staff friendly, efficient and ward was spotless. Nursing / HCSW staff however a different story.

I had both spinal and general anaesthetics and was bedbound , I lay on 2 large scrunched up continence pads overnight, never once was I asked if I was comfortable or were my pressure areas looked at. Too much focus on filling in charts- rounding marked up as buzzer and drink on table within reach- only if my arm could reach an extra 2 feet as HCSW always pushed table out the way to do BP then never put table back, I had to ask.

HCSW or Nurse incredulous when I said they could not use left arm for BP, one HCSW quipped that I was doing it on purpose- actually no, Breast Surgeon told me to never let anyone do BP or VP on that arm as lymph nodes removed. I had to ask twice about my pain score, I was in agony as just had major surgery, would have to wait at least 2 hours for more painkillers- found on when getting discharged that breakthrough was prescribed 2 hourly. I was under the impression that ‘pain is what the patient says it is’, surely adequate analgesia enhances recovery. Scariest sight I have seen for a long time- HCSW emptied my catheter bag without using gloves or apron, despite hand washing sink in the room, and pump gel dispenser at bottom of bed, no effort used to use gel either before or after task. Beds stripped and washed when patients were discharged, unfortunately HCSW and UWS student not wearing aprons and gloves, and dirty bed linen was in contact with their uniforms as they lifted it to put in bags for laundry.

Appears to me that cultures and behaviours in this ward could be examined, I feel that staff should be retrained in basic nursing care and infection control. A shame in this day and age when there is so much focus on the patient experience.