"Terrible and Stressful on almost every occasion."

What I liked

My Consultant was caring and professional.

What could be improved

The Attitude of the nursing staff. It stinks.

Lack of compassion.

Not being beleived when stating pain was a major factor.

For years now I have been visiting Wansbeck general as i have a life time condition that requires my specialist attention otherwise I would never go back to this Hospital. On many occasions I have found the treatment of patients appaling from nursing staff. Not only to myself but to other patients too. Especially the elderly.

Staff ignore all buzzers on the ward. Now if it is the case that the nurses are busy elsewhere, I understand that but I'd say at least 65% of the time, the nursing staff are chatting behind the desk. Sometimes laughing and joking about their private lives. I know this to be true because I have heard them. Old people are being ignored when they are either crying in pain or needing the toilet. I have witnessed an elderly woman who pressed the buzzer for the nurses attention all day long for a good 7 hours and was ignored. This led to one of her relatives coming to visit her on the night time where he had to make a complaint to the nursing staff about his mother being ignored and crying out in pain all day.

In some of my experiences, I have received very bad attitudes from nurses. One nurse even shouted at me telling me that if i pressed my buzzer one more time she was going to insert a machine into one of my orifaces. Now i don't deem that as acceptable behaviour for any nurse who is supposed to be caring for patients. Her comment upset me as I had just undergone major surgery and was in a lot of pain to start with without her stupid comment causing me more stress.

Anything else?

Patients should feel safe and comforted in hospital. No one should every have to experience the things I have witnessed and gone through myself in this hospital. Major issues need to be addressed at this Hospital as many things go un-noticed. (Especially on nightshifts).