"I went in as a visitor to my ..."

What I liked

I went in as a visitor to my wife, taken in for urgent treatment on a Sunday to the Emergency Medical Assessment Unit, stayed at the hospital for 6 days.

Staff and medical treatment at the unit and later at Victoria and Clarke wards were excellent,as were conditions in the two wards.

What could be improved

Conditions in the EmergencyAssessment Unit were awful. Overcrowded,noisy,smelly,humiliating with minimum privacy or dignity for patients. Both sexes in together with only curtains round the beds,minimum bedspaces. All conversations including those between doctor and patient could easily be heard. Staff very busy with constant movement of staff,patients, visitors, porters, etc through the ward. My wife was still wearing the clothing she was admitted in 24hours later in spite of having a change available.

While on the wards she was moved at 2330hrs one night to another ward because her bed was needed.

Car Parking. Very difficult to find a space and charges extortionate - a second tax which I resent. No change machines. I would love to hear the rationale for charges all night and at weekends.