What I liked
THe care given by the doctors was good. However my aunt rarely saw a doctor
What could be improved
Nursing care.
This was appallling. My aunt was 99 at the time of her admission. Whilst the "nurses" were pleasant to her her real needs were just not met. She sometimes had to wait more than an hour after ringing for a commode and on occasions this was left by her bed for 2 hours after she has passed faeces into it. She felt dirty and uncared for. Personal hygiene facilities for such a sick old person was minimal.
No help was available with meals so if she didn't like the food or couldn't eat it she went without.
As her effective next of kin (she has no children and her brother is 85 and partially sighted) I was given no information or support even when I asked for it
I spent a lot of time at the hospital and staying in a nearly hotel yet received no information from any of the staff or ackowledgement abut the difficulties this created for me. One staff nurse was positively sarcastic and rude on the phone.
Anything else?
At 99 my aunt is of the generation that does not question poor practice, just tolerates it and comments on it quietly to those closest to her.
After her time there in January 2011 she said she never wanted to return to that hospital.
Sadly this evening she has had to be rushed back in and went becuse she wasn't well enough to insist on being taken somewhere else.
"Awful and a depressing example of the worst state..."
About: The Great Western Hospital The Great Western Hospital Swindon SN3 6BB
Posted via nhs.uk
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