"A temporary ward experience"

What I liked

The cleaning staff on Ward 14 should be commended for their cheerfulness and hard working attitude.The student nurses from Bournemouth University were also excellent.

What could be improved

When a member of staff tells you that you will be admitted to a temporary ward because beds have been closed and the wards are being reorganised you just know you are on a very special journey.I was, prepared for things to be a little different but was not prepared for the bay of ladies on ward 14 feeling so abandoned.

For three days there was no consultant, and no sister. People in hospital do expect to see someone who appears to be in charge. There were a string of people in uniforms with no name badges so it was a bit tricky to tell who was qualified and who was not.Some were good, others would rather have been elsewhere with the attitude they brought to work.There seemed to be a resentment to being sent to ward 14 from ward 18 and in particular being sent to this outpost of the womens health unit.

Waiting for call buzzers to ring distressed some of the ladies, particularly as they had conditions requiring them to use the loo regularly. There seemed to be no one about at times.

The food is diabolical. When I could eat after a night of vomiting the choices of cream cheese sandwich on rubberised white bread or cornish pasty drowned in gravy just show how penny pinching this organisation really is and was completely off putting. Not a leaf of fresh salad in sight.

There was a time when people got a wash and freshen up after an operation- not now. I had no idea that mouthwashes after vomiting or at least to clean teeth had been done away with.Only two nurses checked for any blood loss- 12 hours apart.Questioning brought glares from some staff so make sure you do any reading up before you go in.

How times have changed.

Anything else?

Generally very basic care with no frills.The ward needs more supervision at a senior level.