"Private Hospital posing as an NHS Hospital"

Anything else?

I have been using the Ridgway Hospital since 1988, always as a private patient and have had 9 procedures carried out since then, both as a day-care and in-patient (longest stay 5 days). Unfortunately since accepting NHS patients the standards have gone down, if you closed your eyes it would appear to be a small NHS hospital. I have no quarrel with the nursing staff or consultants. However the lead time for the very minor operation I had was 3 weeks. Tea and coffee in the reception area is via a vending machine. You are told to take paperwork from one reception area to another. When I asked for a cup of tea for my visiting husband he was told to go and get it from the reception. No mention on the menu for availability for Visitors. The breakfast menu came to my room with no milk for my coffee and no jam or marmalade for my toast. on privious visits eggs were included in the breakfast menu. You certainly never walked to the operating theatre. Gowns provided might as well belong to the NHS, ties missing and back open. Dressing gowns used to be provided now you have to bring your own. A lovely private hospital has been ruined. If funds are required by taking NHS patients, this should not be to the detriment of the private paying patients. Bear in mind that most private patients pay twice - once through their NI and again either from their own funds or from private insurance, which these days is very expensive. The building, although smartened up recently is badly in need of air conditioning, the lack of this is not only uncomfortable for the patients, it must make working conditions intolerable for the staff.