"Core care values ignored- Ward 18 BRI"

My son had pre-surgery check 10 days prior & All was clear.

He made all work arrangements to cover his employment - & had waited 4 years for this surgery.

He was admitted to ward 18 at BRI the night previous to surgery. THe following morning -the day of his early morning surgery - he was told there was no bed. He was really upse & phoned me. He was later told surgery would go ahead as a bed had been found??.

Straight after surgery about 4.50pm, my son telephoned me, very distressed. He had been put on an under-inflated airbed, so uncomfortable, he had to stand up - with tubes from his arms, blood tubes from his chin, monitors etc. because he could no longer remain with the bed base digging into his back. He informed staff & they argued with him. One nurse suggested he went home!!! I arrived shortly after to try to sort things out. Staff were not pleasant, the nurse made excuses about him having accident when he stood up.

I pointed out that with under-inflated airbeds that are uncomfortable for patients, this needed looking into.. I tested that airbed, it was not right.(The patient who used it after my son also complained because no-one checked it!!!) He requested water & was told it would be brought but after an hour I went for it. Staff were cross because he took money with him but he paid for taxi & hospital TV so he needed to take money!!! The paper record checks were incorrectly completed. I noted somme tick boxes had been prefilled. Staff visitedt without badges, I had to enquire who they were. 24 hours later my son still had blood, debris and iodine stains on his face. After 24 hours he had been provided hardly any food. When leaving we waited all afternoon, I had to take his belongings(cartons of meals & medication) right through the hospital as no-one had organised anything & the doctor had not been.

I feel safeguarding, dignity/respect, empathy, communication - all Core Care Values were violated.

I emailed PALS, the hospital executive plus another department - 3 weeks later I've not even had an acknowledgement.

It has left me totally disgusted.