"The cleanliness and efficency ..."

What I liked

The cleanliness and efficency of the Friarage Hospital where people are very treated well. The food looks very good, smells very good and is much enjoyed by my old friend who has been a patient for nearly six weeks.

What could be improved

Thank you for your reply to my March comments. I have followed your advice but there is no improvement in the treatment of patients I observe. My old friend on Rutson Rehabilitation Unit was fidgety and distressed when I saw her tonight. She smelt. I took her to the toilet and called a nurse to assist her and she called for me not to leave her. She was helped and returned to the ward with faecally fingers. She is old and has cataracts. She cannot see and had told the nurse she had washed her hands okay. It was under her fingernails which were extremely long and dirty. I asked if she could be sorted out but was told nurses cannot do that if the patient says they are okay. This ward has had three outbreaks of D & V warnings posted on the ward entrance doors since my old friend has been admitted. Can no one see the connection? If patients are old and partially sighted and left with dirty hands then given sandwinches and fruit for tea they are likely to infect themselves and/or any doorhandles etc they touch. If the staff have not the skill to point out the need for further washing KINDLY this will remain a risk for patients and visitors alike (not for staff as they wear gloves). I had to insist that she was seen by a manicurist (the chiropodist does this) I was told it was not likely to happen before her discharge. My question is then why has this not been booked before? I despair. Last time I visited I had to pass "nurses" laughing about an old lady who had been embarressed by seeing a male patient naked. I think this unit should be shut.

Anything else?

Thank God the Friarage is not under the Primary Care Trust. Sadly there is nowhere at present to put PCT experiences of the Rutson, not that I can find anyway. This Unit appears to the General Public to be a part of the Friarage. There are no PALS PCT leaflets that I can see displayed on the ward or corridor to the ward.