"Sometimes ‘systems’ need to change to meet the needs of patients"

This story has been posted by Healthwatch Tameside on behalf of a member of the public. We have their details and will forward any comments to them. They said…

My dad is in his 70’s and has had 3 admissions to TGH through A & E in the past few months. The problem has mainly been a heart rate of 155 so consequently has had experience of spending time on majors in A & E, MAU, CCU, but mostly on ward 31.

All the staff have treated him with care, respect and been attentive. It was particularly good on ward 31, where it seemed to me that they were woefully understaffed for the number of patients and the challenges some of them presented with. However, when dealing with my dad they explained fully what was happening, always took time to answer his questions and made sure all his needs were met. So excellent service on the wards. He thought the food was good also.

The one area that I think could be better is the pharmacy system. Dad was told in the morning by the doctor that he was to be discharged and that medication had been ordered. Medication arrived at 6pm, so it was around 6. 30pm by the time we were leaving the hospital. It was dark, cold and a week since my dad had been in his flat. There was no food, and the heating hadn’t been on. Not only that, but he, and others, are occupying a bed for the day which could be allocated to someone else.

Apparently, this is the ‘system’ for medications, but sometimes ‘systems’ need to change to meet the needs of patients.