"Several months in Torbay Hospital"

My relative spent several months in hospital during the last stage of life. After 3 visits to A and E, they spent some weeks on Simpson Ward and several weeks on Allerton Ward and had lots of diagnostic tests before being transferred to Rowcroft Hospice for the last few days of life. The staff encountered were generally very caring and I would particularly mention the nurses on Allerton ward and the amazing palliative care team who also supported the rest of the family. It was incredible how our relative's spirits lifted when a nurse or HCA spent time chatting with them. The consultants were helpful and met us when we requested and provided us with the info they had and sensitively talked to us about end of life. The thing our relative found hardest on the ward was the constant noise (esp the buzzers when drips came to an end) . We felt involved in their care and felt all avenues and possible treatments were explored. The only improvement which would have made a big difference was better communication from the hospital to the GP - on the couple of times they were discharged home the GP did not seem to know and so we felt unsupported. In fact when they were transferred to the wonderful hospice we had a call from the GP saying she assumed they were better which was very upsetting. I would definitely recommend Torbay Hospital for good care and there are some very caring staff who if they had a bit more time could provide even better holistic care .