"Ward 1B Trauma Unit"

Anything else?

This ward is excellent , everybody I have come into contact with has given good care or service. The staff work as a team and they work hard doing long hours but they are always willing to help the patients. I think that the ward is understaffed sometimes and that puts a strain on the staff which is unfair. This ward only has 16 beds but at times that's more like 26 because of the high turnover of patients and the amount of organisation that involves. There are also some elective cases as well as trauma and consequently there must be enough staff to go to theatre and recovery. The cleanliness is of a high standard and the people who serve the drinks and those who take the food orders are friendly and helpful. On the subject of food I cannot be so enthusiastic. I don't eat meat ( I do eat fish) and I have a confirmed lactose intolerance. The never changing menu ( tedious if you are a patient for long) has some vegetarian choices but they are all cheese on cheese with a cheese sauce. I have been allied to have one meal a day from the hospital canteen but the vegetarian options are also cheese. I put on weight when I'm in hospital as there is so much carbohydrate in the food and not enough protein or fresh fruit and vegetables. I know the food budget is small but I have had experience of a catering manager who was given the same budget as other hospitals and managed to provide excellent food with extras such as freshly made omelettes for patients who had missed meals or wanted something light. If you take the service station Tebay at Shap as an example you can see how a different method can make an amazing difference. I mustn't forget the drs, porters, theatre staff, admin staff, anyone I've forgotten. Finally, please get some new bed curtains and or rails, they are in a bad state and make it hard for everybody concerned as well as looking shabby. if they were pulled down ( accidentally on purpose) thus closing the bed availability, something would be done immediately wouldn't it? I would also like to commend the hip unit where I have been treated before. I would recommend ward 1 though.