"Mixed experience"

I was admitted to  general surgery  assessment unit via A&E .  The nursing staff and medical staff were fantastic and after a few investigations I was taken to theatre. 

I had my op and was transferred to ward 217 Surgical HDU where I spent 5 nights. The care and attention I received was amazing. 

I was then transferred to ward 207 for the rest of my stay. The ward manager and staff in most cases are so attentive and nothing was ever too much trouble. There were a few exceptions though that let the team down. 

On my first 2 nights after arriving in the ward the a member of staff that was on overnight was very brusque and had no bedside manner. I overheard them refusing to get water for a new admission because they were busy. They were in fact adding up the fluid charts for the day. Overnight the toilet was not emptied of bedpans and at one point it was like an obstacle course because there were 9 used bed pans requiring to be emptied.

The following 2 nights a different member of staff who was also very brusque and seemed very uninterested in her work. Once again the toilet was not emptied of bedpans overnight which made for a very unpleasant experience . I am sure it must be an infection control issue to use a toilet surrounded by bedpans with other people's waste. 

I was discharged after 5 nights in the ward and was pleasantly surprised that my drugs letter etc were ready before midday. Unfortunately I could not get someone to pick me up until after 5pm. 

On the whole my stay in surgery was very positive . I felt that although the ward had been refurbished recently the Management of the hospital has managed to undermine this. A room that was meant for 4 beds had been increased to 6 by the management but they had not added anymore facilities to the room. 1 small toilet and a walk in shower for 6 patients is not at all sufficient and this needs to be addressed .