"Absolutely appalling care ... or the lack of it!"

Dowsett Ward

Having struggle with breathing problems fro some time, barely able to walk or talk, and unable to breathe, my GP referred me to the hospital.

I arrived around 11 a.m. desperate for some kind of relief, but none was forthcoming.

Routine blood tests etc were done.

I was booked for an x ray at 12.15 but that didn't happen until 1.40. and I was still struggling to cope with my breathing with no offer of any help.

Finally seen by a junior doctor gone 2 p.m. I was told I could have a nebuliser ... but of course that never materialised, I was left to struggle

The junior doctor asked me about self harm, he must be joking, I was struggling for every breathe and that was all he could think about. This hospital is obsessed with mental health issues but totally incapable of dealing with the matter in hand, I felt so unwell it would indeed have been easier to die, but being in a hospital, at the very least you would have expected some help to be forthcoming.

The doctor was obviously just out of med school and the respiratory consultant in need of going back there, the total lack of any care or support was unbelievable.

Five hours later, with absolutely no care at all, I was discharged with indigestion tablets ... yes, it really does make you laugh|!

Barely able to walk and still struggling for breath ...

another town, another hospital, and I go the care I needed within 10 minutes of walking through the door!

We know that Southend hospital has the highest death rate in the country and making formal complaints is a sheer and utter waste of time, however as patients are now deprived of choice (having to go o the nearest hospital in an emergency), I would suggest to anyone in a in dire trouble, to make a trip to another town and use their A&E, it could in fact save your life.

It is time this hospital came under special measures, the 5 C's just don't exist in this hospital, I doubt that any staff member could tell you what they are!

I was appalled at the total lack of any care, absolutely appalled!

No doubt the complaints dept will advise me to contact them, but that too is a waste of time, they answer the bits they want to answer then hand you over to the PHSO which can take a year to process, so patients have no meaningful way of complaining!

This hospital certainly doesn't like patients who challenged their unhinged decisions.