"Staffing issues were clear"

My daughter was admitted early hours of Friday morning for treatment following an overdose. Staff were supportive and helpful but it was clear that they were having difficulty covering shifts. I could hear very stressed staff members trying to negotiate with other staff on the phone to get them in to cover. It even sounded like one of them may actually have been off sick, but was still being contacted to cover shifts. 

There appeared to have been mix ups with surgical admissions too with people arriving for procedures that had been cancelled without them being told. 

My daughter was on the unit for much longer than she should have been as there wasn't an available bed on a more appropriate ward. But the staff did their jobs and cared for her well, despite the challenges around them.

When she did get into a ward, it was a surgical ward so was not equipped with the right medication for her, but this was sorted quickly by bringing some from a different ward. 

Staff on the ward were clearly used to supporting children with different issues but they were all kind, skilled and communicated well with me and my daughter. Staffing issues were clear here - agency staff on most shifts and one staff nurse was still on the ward hours after her shift ended. They could make their lives a little easier by giving parents a ward induction - show us where the kitchen is, the showers etc. Tell us where to put the used bedpans and how to label them, show us where the water and cups are. A few minutes at the beginning would save lots of questions later. 

Overall though, the ward was clean, comfortable and staff were lovely. The medical processes worked well. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said of CAMHS, but that's not a ward issue.