"My experience at Sandwell Hospital"

I am 85 years of age and, as the saying goes, it is difficult to learn an old dog new tricks. I have not found it easy to put this story on your website. But I would appreciate if my story could be taken up by the authority in question. It would perhaps relief the stress for many patients. I have tried the Complaints Department, but I have been told there is a 2 day waiting time to get a reply or phone call in return.

After my experience at Sandwell Hospital, I think that elderly people, with no relatives or friends on their side, seem to have very little chance of coming out a life. My experience was nothing but torture in old age. I spent 3 weeks in one of Sandwell Hospital’s wards, which left me feeling almost suicidal! Apart from the food, which in my opinion could only be eaten by people with a very poor existence in life. I should like to see some of the caterers swallow some of the food they produce.

On a few occasions, I was put on the toilet with the window open, and had to wait a long time before I could get help to go back to bed. Because of my hip operation I should always have had a raised toilet seat, but this was taken away many times, so that I got down to my seat that was far too low for my newly operated hip. And watching other elderly people not getting the attention was very hurtful too.

There is one more important factor. The washing facilities are almost impossible. I was put in a cubicle to wash with a basin with very hot water on the right and cold water on the left tap, but there is no stopper in any of the washbasins. And not one shower functional. Asking for a bath certainly fell on deaf ears. There would be lots more to write about the stress one is suffering. Thank you for listening to me, but I cry daily for my experience in that hospital.