"No respect for elderly patients on Purley 2."

My father was on Purley 2 Ward. He is elderly and suffered a stroke. I have witnessed how some of the staff have spoken to him and other patients with such disregard and rudeness. My father required close observation on this ward and we were informed that this was part of his care plan. Whilst on the ward, my father suffered at least three falls. Prior to his discharge, another patient also on the same ward, called me to one side and informed me that the night before, my father had yet another fall.

The patient said, "Your dad is better off going home, he tried to get out of bed so many times last night. There was no one on the ward, the nurses were too busy buying jerk chicken from another nurse! Can you believe carrying out another business whilst on duty! The patient explained that he got out of bed to warn one of the nurses that my dad had gotten out of bed and appeared to be hallucinating. The nurse apparently told the patient that she was on her break. He said the nurses there were laughing loudly and 'enjoying' themselves whilst there was no one to observe the wards. In the meantime, he had gone back to the ward and saw my dad on the floor, he went back to the reception desk to raise the alarm. He described some of the staff as unprofessional and rude. I would agree.