"Excellent care but wards in need of refurbishment"

I had a horse riding accident in December. I was brought to the A&E department at RSCH by emergency ambulance but  have very little memory of the first day or so.

I sustained concussion,  3 fractured ribs and a lung injury. 

I have had excellent care from the moment the ambulance arrived. My husband says that the emergency care was marvellous. I can only remember the sparkly eye shadow of the paramedic! 

I went, for the 3rd time in recent years, into the care of RSCH and once again have been moved by the care, compassion and professionalism of every person here. There is clearly excellent leadership and a sense of professional pride at this hospital that makes me proud to be a nurse myself. I know what good care looks like and it is in abundance here.

Reluctantly I have to mention a negative and that is the sad state of the built environment. I was on Frensham ward. I am a specialist nurse in this field and believe that the place we work and treat patients should be of a good standard. The ward was very clean but the estate is badly in need of refurbishment. The bed head services are poor and the bathrooms are well below standard. I am not convinced that the air changes in the ward are of today's standards. The decor is awful. The fire separation between this ward and the next appeared non existent;  this is also an issue for cross contamination. On the whole it seemed not clinically fit for purpose.

This is the 4th time this hospital has saved my life. I feel a strong sense of affection for it and would love to see the place get the environment it deserves. The staff are superb and should have the surroundings to reflect that.