"My recent stay in Colchester Hospital"

Anything else?

I recently spent 6 days[21/26/11/13] in 3 departments of Colchester Hospital, Majors on admittance, assessment ward and Dedham ward. I was admitted to majors with unstable angina by ambulance when an attack didn't respond to spray, I was placed in a bay and seen very quickly, however I had a further 3 attacks during my stay which my daughter reported to staff and at no time did anyone come and check whether they were serious or mild or needed any attention, fortunately my daughter is a HCA so I had no need to worry, I just am concerned as that somebody who has nobody would be frightened at being left to cope on there own .I was on Majors from approximately 6.30pm until approximately 1am and at no time was I offered a drink or anything to eat, I then was taken to the assessment ward at about 1am where I was quickly bedded and asked if I would like a drink and asked if I could have something to eat, sandwiches were produced which were very good. The cleanliness Standards on this ward were below par, and the next day after I arrived on going to the toilet found that someone had had an accident and the toilet unusable, I reported to the nurse at the desk who said she would see to it, 3 visits later this still hadn't been done, This time there was a Sister at the desk in spotted uniform and I request yet again that the toilet be Cleaned, and it was done straight away, the horrors one hears about people not being fed and watered are nothing to do with lack of cash. a case in point, an Elderly lady in the opposite bed, had slid to the bottom of the bed in a doubled up position, Meanwhile teatime arrives and tea and sandwiches were placed on the table by her bed, there was no way she could reach them or consume them from the position she was in, nurses came and went not looking to left or right with this lady calling out weekly and being ignored. I got out of bed and went over to find that her buzzer was well out of reach, so I placed it in her hand and she rang for the nurse, the nurse arrived and Tipped the foot of the bed right up till old lady was at the head end and then reverse the action till she was sat up, she was not very happy at the way this was done, is that standard Practice. I was then transported to Dedham ward, totally different situation. spotlessly clean, Helpful cheerful staff , from housekeepers upwards. I must also say that I found the food was good and piping hot vegetables cooked just right and was stunned by the amount of choice at lunch and tea. a minor detail but never the less I think I should mention, Was the lack of Names over the beds, there is a whiteboard over each bed presumably for placing patients names on, given the amount of off the ward Doctors in and out the wards, it would make there life easier if they could see instantly where there patient was. So in my opinion its not money that is the problem with the NHS. it is Employing the right staff, People with a caring attitude, they make all the difference.