"I was admitted to Kingston Hospital ..."

What I liked

I was admitted to Kingston Hospital as the victim of a road traffic accident, care in the A&E department from a doctor, radiographer, staff nurse and student nurse was excellent. I was then admitted to an orthopaedic ward which is where my experience changed.

What could be improved

The majority of nurses on the ward were curt and disinterested. The unit matron appeared only when the consultant made his fleeting visits, she demonstrated no leadership skills and these people are supposed to be key. I almost developed pressure sores and I'm otherwise a fit and healthy 40 year old but I was offered so little care by the nurses that I was red and sore. Medical input was poor, my injury was complex and not treatable at Kingston. Referral to a consultant that could treat me took five days to send off and the Kingston consultant stood ringing he hands telling me it was the system that he had to work with, his behaviour was a disgrace. In the end, I rang the new consultant's secretary myself, she managed to unblock the barriers the Kingston consultant said were in place inside two hours and I was moved to St George's within twenty four hours. Where I was operated on successfully within twelve hours of arrival. If I hadn't done that, maybe I would be still lying in bed in Kingston with pressure sores because if I hadn't done something, I had no sense that they were going to either.

Anything else?

If I was the victim of another road traffic accident, I think I would rather take my chances lying at the side of the road than be admitted to Kingston Hospital again.