"Fantastic staff! Shame about the ward set-up"

What I liked

The Ward F4 team provided nursing care at it's very best. From the ward cleaner, H.C.A.s, Staff Nurses, Sisters and wonderful consultant, I could not fault their professionalism and hard work, sometimes in difficult circumstances. In addition to the care I received, I observed the care of an elderly bed-bound lady - she was treated with the utmost dignity and respect at all times which was lovely for her and her family.

What could be improved

The placing of an emergency assessment unit within the ward setting is very poorly planned. At a time post-operatively, when patients are at their most vulnerable, it was not beneficial to have emergency patients and their families coming through the narrow ward both day and night. It also meant that the lights could not be fully dimmed and the telephone rang all night resulting in no sleep at all, even with a morphine pump. It also put added pressure on the nursing staff involved. Senior planning managers need to look at this system which blights an otherwise excellent unit.