"Ward 31 was dire (with an honourable exception)"

I was transferred to ward 31 from the High Dependency Unit, who had been excellent, though I had felt bumped around a bit like a carcass in HDU and it was very hard to get comfortable, also I didn't sleep. But on changing wards the level of care dropped catastrophically. To summarise: no-one was listening. I have an ileostomy and need a low residue diet, but a lot of the food was unsuitable despite my explaining time and time again what I need (as instructed by the very same hospital that couldn't or wouldn't deliver it). Food ordering was chaotic; I kept being offered jelly (which I can eat) but it rarely arrived. They kept wanting to deliver salad or beans, which I can't eat. I also need to take imodium so my remaining bowel has time to absorb the goodness from what I eat; this was refused (I finally got my husband to bring in some of what I am prescribed and used that). Result: I was effectively starved, losing 11lb in a week. Some loss was inevitable, but nothing on that scale.

At least 3 messages were left for me, but they weren't passed on. My husband challenged a nurse as to why his message that he wasn't allowed in that afternoon hadn't been delivered and was told that he had said not to tell me; a misunderstanding is the best construction I can put on this, but I fear that may be too generous considering the general lack of care.

The honourable exception was the ward sister on Sunday evening and Monday morning, who was as caring as everyone else had been uncaring. Also, the nurse who pointed my husband in her direction. The sister got everything moving and I was discharged on the Monday. Not a moment too soon. Now I am home, I can sleep in my own bed and - hopefully - recover some strength by eating the right food.