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Care Opinion

Six berth wards.

Posted By Gawler

"Six berth wards."

About: Central Lancashire PCT / Community nursing Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

(as a relative),

The six berth wards are a retrograde step in my opinion, this means three beds a side and my elderly wife who has dementia problems was placed in a corner bed. The lady in the next bed being unable to talk meant that my wife had no one to talk to ! My wife had a bad fracture of her leg and was confined to bed for many weeks; not a very satisfactory situation. In the old large wards there was always something going on no matter how trivial.

May I also say that since my wife came out of hospital last October the follow up care -the Community Matron - in particular can only be described as excellent, or indeed unhurried excellence. Nothing too much trouble, nothing glossed over , other patients never mentioned, the visit of the Matron always eagerly looked forward to.

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Responses

Response from Julie-Ann Bowden, Clinical Quality and Assurance Manager, NHS Central Lancashire 15 years ago
Julie-Ann Bowden
Clinical Quality and Assurance Manager,
NHS Central Lancashire

Submitted on 02/02/2009 at 21:43
Published on Care Opinion on 03/02/2009 at 00:00

Dear Gawler

I am sorry to hear of your report that your wife's stay in hospital was not satisfactory. The fact is that the NHS has been working towards eliminating the old-fashioned Nightingale wards that you refer to as 'old large wards' since 2001. Overall, the smaller 'six berth wards' that your wife has had recent experience of provide better privacy and dignity as well as improved facilities for patients. Unfortunately, in the case of your wife, you give an account that does not necessarily echo the desired outcome.

Your comments that your wife did not have anyone to talk to could perhaps have been resolved by her bed being located in a more suitable position. It is difficult for me to pass any further comment on this issue as I am unsure where your wife's stay in hospital took place.

Your comments about the Community Matron Service provided by NHS Central Lancashire detail a more positive experience of NHS healthcare. I will make sure that your comments are passed to the Community Matron Team.

Thank you for taking the time to tell your story about your experiences.

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