"Nursing by request!"

I have been a visitor to Pinderfields numerous times over the last year as a family member has had ongoing medical issues. I am sorry to say that there is little to praise in the way they were treated and it has been sad to see the demise of the nhs service. There is clearly staff shortage issues but this seems to be compounded by bad staff attitudes and poor organisation, communication and management. Patient care is lacking as they are often left hanging about for hours, given conflicting advice particularly from doctors/consultants and nursing staff, missed and messed up medications and procedures and little interaction from nursing staff. It would seem that unless prompted or questioned, patients see little of staff unless at mealtimes, when medicines or procedures are due and at times they hardly even speak to the patient. There have also been occasions when staff have said they would come back to deal with issues raised but never returned, no explanation for changes to planned procedures and no discussion with relatives (even when it is known patient has problems with short term memory). Buzzers have been ignored for lengthy periods even when nurses chatting outside rooms about non work related issues! Also discussion about other patients within earshot appears to be commonplace.

It would seem that patients who do not speak out or do not want to make a fuss are neglected over the more confident, vocal and demanding patients.

Having said all this there have been some good examples of quality nursing and care, particularly the Critical Care staff who were wonderful and can not be praised enough. However the good have been few and far between and therefore noticeable. Individual feedback will be given to PALS to pass on.