"the nurses and cleaners were superb ..."

What I liked

the nurses and cleaners were superb and very friendly, shame their management are not so good.....

What could be improved

communication was lousy. I was in for just under 2 weeks with a broken ankle, so obviously I needed crutches. now I'm a big bloke and needed special strong crutches, yet Medway dont keep these, and because I live in sussex they wouldnt pay for them either. And when did they tell me this, on the day the doctors said I could go home! They said it would take 7 daysto get the crutches, if Sussex approved the purchase. So could I go home anyway? No! They wanted to keep me in for another week until the crutches were in stock to prevent me getting injured! They knew I was big when I came in, they knew I would need crutches (the physio told me this on about day 4!) yet didnt bother doing anything till the day I could leave. Funny how they worried about me being hurt, yet still put me in a rattly old metal bed for the last 3 days that was not classed as suitable for my size! Didnt mind doing that did they!

I discharged myself in the end due to the utter incompetence of the managers, and on the way home spoke to my sister, who walked into a mobility shop and bought me the crutches I needed... for £26! Yes, Medway were unwilling to spend £26 but happy to keep me in a hospital bed for a week at the cost of god knows how many hundreds of pounds.

I went for upto a day without seeing a doctor at all, if it wasn't for the great nurses and cleaners I wouldnt have had a clue what was happening. the best info came from a really good junior doctor who appeared rushed off her feet and a lot more skilled than her supposed peers.

On top of this I spent the majority of my time in mixed wards, and was moved between rooms and wards about 5 times during my stay. The last ward I was in there was a poor old lady opposite who was obviously distressed and suffering who at times lost control and would be 'on show' to all and sundry. Not fair for her or for me and the young male patient opposite.

Anything else?

If you have the misfortune to end up in this hospital make sure you get heard. dont try to be an understanding patient as I did for the first week or so as it does nothing for you. keep on at the doctors 24/7, make sure you know what they are doing and make sure the arrangements are in place for when you need to leave. go easy on the nurses and cleaners though, they are good hard working people who dont deserve the lack of help they get from above.