"fairfield 2 ward - not good"

I had a family member stay on fairfield 2 ward recently after an operation and I feel that the care left a lot to be desired. In my opinion the nurses didn't even manage to carry out basic care for patients- many left unwashed for their whole stay, without medication for pain relief for long periods of time, and call bells went a long time before being answered.

In my experience the ward sister did not have very good listening or communication skills and seemed quite uncaring. Nursing did not seem to come naturally to her. My relative had surgery and when I went to visit her, she was in tears because of the pain and had not been looked after at all. Surely after surgery is an important and vital time to be receiving the required care?

I was quite upset to visit my relative on the ward to discover her in tears behind her curtain in bed on her side because she could not move. Later on her BP was taken, and it was discovered her sats were quite low and she had a very high temperature. She then required oxygen. I can't help but think she had been ignored for hours- left behind the curtain in her bed I the corner of the bay- and this was the repercussions from it.

Through out her stay she had to constantly ask for pain relief, which is ridiculous as thats why she is there in the first place? And they kept giving her pain relief which was too weak. The nurses seemd to be unable to put themselves in the patients shoes and understand how they might be feeling.

As someone who works at this hospital, I am shocked at the treatment received by my relative when she first joined the ward, and it didnt get any better as the days went on. I am sad to have to leave such feedback about my own workplace.

As it is a short stay ward, it seemed the nurses did not feel any need to build any rapport with the patients. I could have cared for her better at home.

I will not be recommending the care received on this ward to anybody.