"Unsatisfactory care on ward 10B"

I recently went to Accident and Emergency for a chest infection and asthma. The staff in A&E were absolutely faultless. I then got moved to a ward where I was monitored. Again staff faultless. After two nights, I was moved again to ward 10B. I found staying on that ward a nightmare. Some of the staff were nice and pleasant, others were miserable and seemed to be there against their will. The impression I got was they weren’t happy to be there and it showed.

I felt that there was a lack of staff on ward 10B room 4. Some of the things I saw there I thought were an absolute disgrace.

Here are some of the things I witnessed on that ward:

•patients were often left for too long when buzzer rang for nurse

•meals were left out of reach on tables for those who needed assistance in eating

•ward was not cleaned properly

•machinery for lifting was left on ward and appeared to not be left in a safe manner, trailing wires where visitors had to get through to patient

•I saw staff drop rubbish on floor from containers, lids etc.

•staff often did not respond when you told them about a problem

•I saw a patient ask for bedpan and waited to long and as a result wet her bed and was left in it for ages

The quality of the care on that ward was not good enough. There didn’t seem to be enough staff on the ward to do all the tasks to a competent and acceptable level of care. There seemed to be a lack of tlc. These patients are human beings. They have feelings. They deserve the best care, not the second class care that I saw.

Some staff treat patients as if they are three years old "Did you hear what I said." "Do you understand me, did I make myself clear?".

That was my reason for leaving the ward. I didn’t like the attitude, and lack of respect I experienced. I tried to help other patients, when there was a lack of staff, but all I got was grief for my trouble.

I hope something is done about these alarming issues. I hope someone out there is listening and takes notice of my experience on this ward.