"My own not too bad, but treatment of other..."

What I liked

The "very" few nurses that did make time for the older patients on the ward, and checked that they got food and drink.

What could be improved

I was stunned to see the low level of care given to the older patients on the ward. during the drug rounds the medication was left in pot on the bedside table, sometimes out of reach and on a number of occasions the patients dropped the medication on the floor, which I pointed out to nursing staff who seemed totally disinterested. Meal times the catering staff would be left to ask if the patient wanted food and the more confused paitents would say no! or not even understand what they were being ask! same would apply to drinks, with the older paitents being given a cup which they were incapable of picking up. I never once saw the bedside tables cleaned or even wiped.

My own bed side chair had dried blood on it, and dispite asking for it to be cleaned it never happened.

The older patients often asked for a commode and never once did I see one supplied, which meant the paitent soiled the bed ( old people have feelings)

My own after care involved an injection, missed for a whole day and only picked up the following afternoon, I lost count of the times that my ward records went missing, on one occasion being found in the record holder of a bed on the other side of the ward.

Anything else?

Having said all of the above, you do have a few dedicated nurses, who chase to care for all who call while other nurses stand and discuss everything from doctors though to holidays (all within earshot of patients) The shear volume of paperwork is taking nurses away from what they should be doing "looking after patients"

I have been in hospital a number of times and have always tried to allow for the uneviable task that you and your nursing staff have, I was however unprepared what I saw at the norfolk and Norwich.