"Awful and degrading!"

What I liked

Getting out of the hospital as soon as possible.

What could be improved

January this year was sent in by Drs to A and E, early hours of morning. I saw a nurse then a doctor.. and put into a side room. The doctor gave me some pain killers and my unbelivable stay on an A and E trolley was 11 hours, stating hospital had no beds yet others were moving to wards etc.. I asked for further pillows as i have severe osteoarthritis and had kidney pains and two more pillows would have been comfy...but i was just left to suffer..

I asked on several occassions they ring my husband up to let him know what was happening and they said they would.. and also to contact my community nurse as i didnt want to stay in the hospital and would rather have treatment at home. Neither was done and my husband turned up at midday not amused that no one had called.

Later in the afternoon i was transferred to a ward where i had totally seized up by this point and couldnt move.. and was left again.. on my left was a lovely old lady who told me about her illness and we had tea, by the time a drink came round i was spitting feathers, but had a salad which seemed ok.. and asked for an extra cheese cracker and cake for the evening which i stored in my locker as it was nearly 24 hours since i had eaten or drank and hadnt been offered anything.. Unfortunatley in the evening after the meal i was really sick, and had several bowls and the lady next to me started been sick.. two nurses on the ward stood in front of our beds just chatting away, until i managed to say please get us more bowls.. no curtains pulled round for privacy whatsoever... one of the nurses comments was you shouldnt have ate all that food! when i said i beg your pardon i had salad and cracker the other cracker and cake was in the locker if they would like to check.. next day 3 of us had to share a snack box at night!

Didnt see a doctor from time from a and e to the weds which was over 30 hours or so..

Anything else?

No one from A and E contacted my husband to tell him where i was or my community nurse.. and didnt do so on the ward either.

I understand the hospital might be busy but if people have to stay on trolleys at least make it comfy as possible.

Jacket potatoes are gross, just a spud thrown on a plate .. and something in a dish seperatley, nothing else to eat..

No contact from any doctor for over 30 hours...

Went to see the specialist week after who contradicted what he said in hospital and he gave me a prescription for some tablets from the hospital.. this contradicted what my own gp said and i know who i trust more so i threw the prescription in the bin.

People in our section of the ward were commenting on lack of a nurse as she was tied up with a lady who was violent and had drink related problems who was scaring esp the elder people on their.. this is a shame...

A couple years ago i was in the hospital in my own town and the experience was totally different, well organised, staff on wards, food ok i know its not going to be brilliant stuff but edible is a good start.. its weird how different hospitals have different ethos...