"Hard working staff doing their best"

What I liked

The staff in A & E work tirelessly for the good of the patients under huge pressures. On Ward 20, where I arrived 52 hours after arriving by ambulance at North Staffs A & E, the staff were pleasant, efficient, caring with plenty of time to talk to patients explaining their treatment.

From the ladies who bring the tea / coffee to the doctors everyone showed a true commitment to care.Although I would have much preferred to be at home, I cannot describe my stay on Ward 20 as unpleasant.

What could be improved

Parking! And food. I have never tasted such tasteless cuisine. If patients are in hospital for any length of time trying to improve their health, the food that is served cannot possibly help towards their recuperation. Many visitors were bringing food in for their friends and relatives, this really should not be necessary. I don't know how true it is but I heard that the food is prepared in Wales and brought to the hospital - whilst I understand the constraints of budgets, surely we should be looking for this service to be done nearer to home in a bid to support local business.

Anything else?

I would like to suggest that the 'Urgent Care Centre' should be re-named. Whilst I was correctly diagnosed in this area, the staff had no urgency about them and patients were left for long periods of time without any information. The staff did not appear to function as a team and it wasn't clear who was in charge. In fact the relative of one patient approached the nurses' station and asked who was in charge and the response by at least 3 members of the 'team' was 'In charge of what?' - quickly followed up by 'nobody'Follow upApproachableCommunicationOpening hoursPatient careProfessionalismReceptionAmbulanceDoctorsNursing staffFoodServiceCar Park