"Care was excellent but some points for improvement"

I stayed on the ward for two weeks. A lot of the care I received was excellent, but there are some points I'd like to make for improvement.

Water jug was filled once a day, nobody checked them or refilled unless asked to. I was mobile enough to do it myself, but many are not, and dehydration risk is an issue, especially as it's quite hot on the ward.

Lack of privacy, curtains not always drawn during consultations. Very noisy on the ward, staff having unnecessarily loud conversations during the night.

I had no idea of some of the nurses' names, most of them didn't introduce themselves, and/or were not wearing name badges.

There is no access to a day room, no access for fresh air or sunlight (vitamin D), no access to a shop or café, as was not allowed to leave ward. This was quite claustrophobic, and did not improve anyone's mood, especially those who were in for a long time. Even the therapy dogs don't come to this ward, even though there is clinical evidence that petting an animal lowers blood pressure, this ward should have priority!

Tops of chairs not getting cleaned and covered in a thick layer of dust.

No weekly MUST getting done, I was not weighed once during my stay. The menu makes it impossible to achieve your five-a-day, there should be more fruit and veg on offer, especially as I already stated, we could not go to the shop. Yogurts have 140 kcal, there should be a lower calorie option.

Finally, the issues with transport are very distressing for the patients, having to wait for an ambulance for up to a whole day, and having to be on stand by, packed and ready to go, as they then arrive without any notice.

As I said, there was a lot of good as well, but I feel that if nobody tells you about these things, you can't do anything about them.