"Unhelpful staff 99% of the time"

Visited my aunt on several occasions over the past month, could never find any staff to ask questions and when I did was told they couldn't help as wasn't her nurse or from another section. The one occasion all she had on was a cardigan with no buttons and she kept throwing the bedclothes off because she has dementia. There were male visitors present and it was quite embarrassing. When I asked a nurse if they could help, they said they didn't work on that ward so I mentioned dignity and respect and they soon got somebody to dress my aunt, although they did give me a filthy look when I thanked them.

There appears to be several staff standing talking around workstations (sometimes not even about work related matters) but they don't even look you in the face and ask if they can help.

On another occasion I brought an elderly relative with Parkinsons to visit, she doesn't have a wheelchair as is able to walk the usual short distances. Upon enquiring at reception for a wheelchair (as the hospital is so vast and walking that length to the ward would cause a problem) was informed they could not give out wheelchairs, so we had to return home without visiting.

I was later informed by another member of staff on reception that they could have called for porter assistance.

It appears not all staff have been made aware of this facility.

Suggestion - loan out wheelchairs for a nominal fee, I would have paid.

Visits to other hospitals are of a more superior experience, every time I have been to the QE there has been a problem with some aspect of the service provided.

Appointments are always running late, the staff are rude and unhelpful and reception often send you to the wrong area for appointments. These big superhospitals just don't work for the public. Bring back matrons and cottage hospitals at least you had an identifiable person responsible and didn't have to walk half a mile to get to the ward whilst wasting money on an over priced car park.