"Elderly people should not be made to feel like..."

What I liked

The nurses - wonderful - deserve medals.

They are so caring and comforting.

I was on CDU Unit but there is not an option for this in your drop down list.

What could be improved

Not having the shower in the same room as the only toilet in the bay. One lady was in the shower for about an hour - as I couldn't walk without help I had no option but to use a commode.

When I pressed my button during the night it was ignored.

The food - I was given a meal that was literally baked to the plate and inedible. In the 26 hours I was on the ward I ate a yogurt and a jelly

Anything else?

My first night the two doctors were fantastic - they told me what they were going to do (a lumbar punch and other tests) they were gentle, caring and treated me like I mattered.

The next morning was very different - the Consultant Physician spoke to me without a member of my family - I am 86 and very deaf. I was confused and wanted to get home. although a GP had sent me to CDU after 12 hours of considerable pain which did not subside with paracetamol and ibubrofen - this Dr told me I had not given painkillers enough time to work - she made me feel like I shouldn't be there and was wasting her time. When asked how the pain was I said better (i.e. not 10 out of 10 - more like 5 out of ten). She said I could go home.

My daughter had rung the Unit only half an hour before and was told I would be staying short term on a ward and was very surprised to see me sitting in a chair saying I could go home. She asked a nurse who said no I had to wait to be assessed. This was 11.30am. About 2pm my mother was in considerable pain again and had to lie back on the bed; I asked for paracetamol and it took over an hour before she got them. She was not given her regular medication - Sotalol - which she has to take twice a day at home and has done for about 11 years (she has already had one small stroke) even though I had taken that medication to the Unit with her the night before.