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Do not treat patients with respect

Story from nhs.uk

"Do not treat patients with respect"

About: Croydon University Hospital

What I liked

One trainee nurse was very kind and treated me with a lot of respect and explained everything really well.

What could be improved

Treated me like I was a nuisance. Refused to give me information about what would happen in my c-section - told me my consultant would have told me, despite me telling them he hadn't given me any information.

Was not given appropriate food. Day after c-section, when I should have had very plain food, I ordered a jacket potato from the kitchen. Was brought really spicey curry instead as they had run out of jacket potatoes. Told kitchen now closed and there was no alternative.

Given no support to get up and move around after c-section for first time. Told to get up when I felt like it and use the toilet. I did so and very nearly blacked out with my baby in my arms.

Not supportive of breastfeeding. Huge pressure put on woman in my ward who was having trouble breastfeeding to bottle feed (2 of the nurses even came to her in the middle of the night to very forcefully tell her that she had to bottle feed). Told she couldn't go home until she could breastfeed, despite having severe lack of sleep and no support in the hospital (at home she would have had her husband to support her and make sure she could get some sleep!).

Anything else?

Seems to be a culture of not respecting the patients at this hospital and abuse of power.

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Responses

Response from Croydon University Hospital 12 years ago
Croydon University Hospital

Submitted on 02/03/2012 at 10:07
Published on nhs.uk on 03/03/2012 at 04:01

We are so sorry you had a difficult time when you gave birth to your baby and apologise for any distress caused by this poor experience. We aim to treat everyone with respect and its clear you did not feel that when you were with us.

We appreciate your stay was two years ago, making it difficult for us to look into the matter properly. However, if you would just like to talk to someone about your experience we are very willing to help you.

Please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service either by phone 0208 401 3939 or email pals@croydonhealth.nhs.uk and they can put you in touch with our Head of Midwifery.

As regards breastfeeding, we are working towards achieving the “Baby Friendly” standard and have recently invested time and dedicated staff to help support women who choose to breastfeed.

We have also recently changed our catering service to provide better choice for women in the maternity unit.

These facts - which we only offer so that others who read this comment will be aware of the recent changes - do not in any way explain the experience you had, so please do get in touch.

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