"Care in some parts of the NHS leaves a lot to be desired"

My Dad was taken to Bolton hospital after a fall at home, We waited for three hours in A & E at Royal Bolton only to be told there was no fracture. Two days later he was taken back into the same department, and this time they said that indeed there was a fracture. They put plaster on his right arm. The plaster theatre nurse said they didn't think they had aligned it properly, but that the doctor had said to leave it. We then were sent home in a hospital taxi even though Dad could hardly mobilize because we were told that there was a three hour wait for an ambulance. This was at 9. 30 pm.

Two days later Dad was taken back into hospital at Bolton Royal. I had stressed that dad was not well in himself on the previous visits. I had found him on his bedroom floor. He was taken to B4 ward. I felt that on numerous occasions that the care was not up to standard. I mentioned to a nurse that he had peripheral oedema to his right leg. This leg was never elevated whilst he was sat out. His fingernails were full of faeces. We were told the staff were not allowed to clean nails. We asked for a nail brush but were told that they did not have any so we were given a toothbrush. They shaved my Dad and cut his ear twice. On one of my visits he was lying in bed with a pad with faeces on his legs and on the sheets and he had no bed clothes covering him. Also, the call bell was behind his bed so he couldn't ring for a nurse. He was calling our for help when I walked in but he was being ignored.

There was isolation in his 4 bedded ward. Nevertheless I witnessed some nurses going to different patients with the same gloves on. I also saw some nurses in the isolation ward with no protective aprons whilst we visitors were made to wear them. I could go on with the list longer than this. Having been a nurse myself for over 40 years I think the care in some aspects of the NHS leaves a lot to be desired.