11 May 2011
During an inspection in response to concerns
Many people spoke highly about the staff, and said they were polite, helpful and friendly. Another said 'the staff are very patient, I can't fault them. They are wonderful'. Other comments included 'staff are absolutely wonderful; they are very busy and work hard to their limits but have always given me what I needed', and 'I can't fault the care, it's wonderful'.
People we spoke with felt their privacy and dignity were valued by the staff. One person said 'the blinds are always pulled when people examine me and when I need help with washing'. Another said 'my privacy is respected; the curtains are always drawn when I need to change'. We were told by one person that 'staff asked me if they could take my blood'.
Overall people stated that the level of cleanliness was very good and that the wards were swept and cleaned on a regular basis. People had seen that beds and equipment were cleaned between uses. Most people said that hand cleaning was carried out by staff in advance of any care being provided.
Comments received in respect of the cleanliness of the hospital included 'the ward is always being cleaned its lovely and I get my bed changed every day', 'the cleanliness is excellent' they're always to and fro cleaning', 'this place is really clean, despite it being an old building'.
A relative of a patient said that the nurses were wonderful but her dad went eight days without occupational therapy because of the bank holidays and weekends, and that he could have gone home much sooner but a care package had not been put into place. Until we came on this ward nothing was being done they just kept moving him from ward to ward'.
One person explained that they were waiting to hear from the doctor about whether they could have a procedure or not and had been there three days nil by mouth 'I don't know when they're coming around or if they're going to send me home yet'.