"My Stay"

I came out of hospital yesterday after a 1 week stay. Due to the hospital being extremely busy, I was moved three times during the week and this gave me an insight into the different wards, Ansty, B2 and B4. The quality of nursing on theses wards varies greatly from one to another, especially the night staff. On Ansty ward and B2, the level of noise during the night was appalling with staff laughing loudly, and the sounds of metal bin lids dropping on the wards almost unbearable. I felt as if I was living in a nightclub or a bar instead of a hospital and for the duration of my stay in both of these wards I got no sleep whatsoever. There were a few day and night nurses on these wards that were caring and that had time to actually talk and reassure me but I felt that most of them just went through the motions and really couldn't care about me as a patient. Often when I asked for help I was left waiting for hours and had to get up and try and find a nurse as they had obviously forgotten me.

B4 was completely different and for the last two days I was in an atmosphere of calm and caring. The nights were quiet and if I required help, someone would be there within a few minutes. I was listened to and for the first time in five days, I actually had a good nights sleep.

The doctors throughout my stay were wonderful and took all the time they needed to investigate and make sure that things were explained to me for which I am very grateful.

The food during my stay was mostly inedible and appeared to have been defrosted and left for a long time. During the week there was nothing on the menu that tasted of anything and I noticed a lot of patients just simply left their food because it was so bad. I was in Poole hospital some years ago and the food then was amazing and I felt was instrumental in speeding my recovery as I looked forward to every meal, but this was not the case last week. The elderly especially, I noticed, were given nutritional supplements and on asking why they told me that they simply could not eat what was being given them as it was so bad. I am due to have my gall bladder out at some point in the future and will definitely bring my own food with me.

My stay at Poole has definitely been a mixed bag this time and moving from ward to ward was an experience. I hope this helps give some perspective into what happens from ward to ward. I love Poole hospital and have no qualms about going back for my operation as the doctors are wonderful but the nursing staff on the wards mentioned definitely need to have more respect and consideration for the people they are there to treat.