"The ward certainly wasn't clean"

I was admitted as a patient on ward 53 as a cancer patient but I had proved positive for Covid therefore ward 53 was the only one available. The staff were in general good and attentive most of the time however the ward certainly wasn't clean.

My bed was washed on my arrival but the side table was dirty and I ended up cleaning it myself with wipes, as it is a Covid ward and my immune system doesn't work very well I feel that it should have been cleaned professionally with anti bacterial cleaner.

At no point of my stay was it ever wiped, nor were any of the floors swept or mopped, disgraceful. Toilets were also not very clean.

The food that first day was abysmal, 3 cold fish fingers and uncooked chips, even the nurse apologised for it, the chips were defrosted but certainly hadn't seen an oven and I wasn't offered anything else instead, I wouldn't have served it to a dog.

Other patients, all bed bound unfortunately were either given food on a table and left to manage themselves, or not as the case was, then food was removed with no care that they hadn't eaten anything.

On the evening I managed to wash myself for bed but no other patient was offered a wash and at no point while I was in did they ever clean anyone's teeth, this is basic hygiene and care.

On an evening our ward was used as the office so the door was open all night with hall lights on, no peace and the nurse in charge spent their full shift there including loud, personal conversations going on all night long.

We are patients that are ill and need rest and care whilst in hospital, surely an office or nurses station should be available to allow patients to rest.

I received good care from the doctors but other than that I think patients are really not being cared for correctly. Fortunately I didn't have to stay in for long but I do worry about those in for long time care, it was depressing to see.

If you're not capable of looking after yourself whilst in there you don't really stand a chance. It didn't help that visitors weren't allowed so families don't have any knowledge of the poor standard of care.

I really hope someone reads this and sits up and does something about it and not just sweep it under the carpet.