"Respiratory Medicine - Morton and Fleming Wards"

I was sent by my GP to Morton Ward over some respiratory difficulties. The staff on Morton Ward were lovely, very friendly and professional and explained what was happening at every step. After a night there I was moved to Fleming Ward. On arriving with a nurse from Morton The staff were extremely rude to the nurse I was with and didn't acknowledge me.

Eventually we found out which bed I was meant to be in, no thanks to most of the Fleming staff.

On venturing to the toilet I was confronted with faeces all over the toilet and a towel soaked in urine on top of the bin. Obviously not a hygienic place to be when poorly, i decided to find another toilet on the ward. I went to the next bay and was physically stopped from going to the toilet by one of the nurses who said they were for patients only and i wasn't to use it?? One of the other nurses saw the scene and commotion and pointed out that I was a patient and had a wrist band, no apology I was still dragged by the wrist away from that toilet! Another nurse said I could use the loo in the shower room. On going there I was confronted by a bowl full of urine on a chair next to the toilet.

It seemed that the conditions were the same in all toilets. Despite people mentioning the conditions to the staff, I was there for 20 hours before anyone removed any of the faeces and urine left in the toilets.

During the night I was in a lot of pain and asked for painkillers which they said they would bring but didn't.

There was the odd member of staff who was approachable but on the whole they were extremely unfriendly and unapproachable.

Again on Morton ward the catering lady was wonderful but on Fleming they were extremely unfriendly. Two of the meals I asked for they just said they didn't have - I was made to feel like I had no right to be there and how dare I want any food.

I appreciate the difficulties and pressures the wards face, however there is no need for rudeness. In my case I was scared and already felt out of place but was made to feel like I had no right to be there. That along with the conditions I ultimately couldn't wait to get out.

I think this is really sad because Morton ward staff were great and I don't think this is a true reflection of the hospital as a whole. I really hope this feedback will help to ensure that other patients who have to go to the ward are perhaps made to feel a little less uncomfortable. I absolutely would not have been in hospital out of choice and therefore went in frightened, just a little kindness (and of course cleanliness) would have gone a long way.

In addressing the issues of cleanliness please let me know if you require photographs of the conditions, I will be happy to provide directly.