"Shocked by a poorly managed hospital which could..."

What I liked

Paramedic team went 'The Extra Mile'

What could be improved

Father taken to A&E

85 years old , multiple conditions including Motor Neurone, severely impaired speech and hearing, continence issues

Two and a half hour wait with nine others on stretchers in a corridor for hand over to nursing staff

Further five hours until complete diagnosis

Left in a cubicle to await a bed in AEU

I liaised with staff who assured me his PEG tube would be flushed correctly within the two hour window. I offered a bag of feed but was assured that some was available and he would be fed.

Waited for his discharge next day which was approved at 10.00 a.m.

He arrived at home at 3.00 p.m. Having waited all day for the Pharmacy to provide medication.

He had not had a feed started and DNs had to come out to start it.

During the disproportionate waiting time in A&E several smartly dressed, name tagged,folder carrying people came to talk to nursing staff and without fail said on departure 'Let me know if there is anything I can do!'

I was tempted to suggest they could take their jackets off, roll up there sleeves and change my father was cleaned in a plaster room, which was dirty, by paramedics who were compassionate and caring although frustrated throughout.

I was contacted by physiotherapy prior to discharge for information I had already given on five separate occasions. Surely this wastes time and resource which could contribute to better efficiency but even better more provision of basics!

Political assurances of a well resourced, efficiency oriented NHS are belied by reality, which is an over stretched frustrated service under staffed and short on resource, with systems in place which often conflict with best practice.

Anything else?

I naively thought that years of contributions warranted the best possible medical care available.

I now think there would have been merit in the ability to opt out in favour of private medical insurance.