"Must be one of the cleanest hospitals ..."

What I liked

Must be one of the cleanest hospitals in East Sussex, all areas were regularly cleaned and kept spotless. Considering the food is nor prepared on site it was generally tasty, good selectionof options and hot.

What could be improved

At Crowborough there is an indifferent detachment of nursing staff from patients which at times borders on callous indifference. There was virtually no interaction between the nursing sisters and patients either on a medical or social basis. Quite clearly they see their role as administrators as for a high percentage of time they were welded to their chair and computers. Apart from the administration of drugs the caring was left to the care assistants or agency staff. There performance varied greatly, the majority were kind and performed well but a certain number seemed to enjoy the discomfort many encountered waiting to be assisted to the toilet or coomode. The most common sound to be heard at Crowbourgh was the never ending ring of the bell which never seemed to be answered. The situation at night was even worse, frequently beds were not lowered and no assistance was given with undressing or other toileting or washing needs, it would appear nothing could interfer with watching TV or drinking coffee! Staff were obviously there for the money and little else. Not surprising this attitude developes when there is zero supervision or motivation. Of course because of age or infirmity many of the patients could be difficult but that is no reason to treat them like an inconvenience, Crowborough is after all a hospital and not a geriatric dumping ground.

Anything else?

We it would be nice if Nursing Staff and attendant G.P's actually tried to discuss our ailments, treatment and likely outcome. I had an x-ray but was never told the result; changes were made to my medication without explanation or consultation and my discharge was discussed with my relatives but not with me, it was as if I was invisible.

So Nurses get up from your desks, forget filling in the forms and start nursing. That mean seeing your patients each day., talking to them, administering the medication, discussing their needs with G.P's and Social Services and STOP treating them like objects that have to be processed through the hospital system.

Go back to treating nursing as a vocation and not just a job and patients as people. We are old and frail but one day so you will be, treat us as you would like to be treated.