Share review of University Hospital Coventry

University Hospital Coventry 2024-07-12 Person 1 5 0

Genera Critical Care is a busy area where the high risk of PTSD for families and patients is extremely high. There are some really kind and caring doctors and nurse but there are also a fair few who have clearly forgotten why they joined the NHS. Having spent some weeks on the unit as a family member we have sat back and watched carefully as consultants have strolled past patients beds almost as if they are invisible. Whilst I understand this is a complex and challenging area to work there is a real sense of lack of awareness of the fact that patients are real people and not just statistics or a number on a bed. Likewise there are some nurses who are so task focused and just want to get the job done without even stopping to think about the person laid in the bed- just because they are sedated/sleeping does that really mean you shouldn’t communicate and treat the patient like a piece of meat on a factory conveyor belt. There are some nurses who have clearly been on the job too long and should have moved on to a less challenging role as they do not have the ability to empathise and adopt a dictatorial role around the unit. It’s a real shame for the kind, caring compassionate staff who work hard to keep families and the patients updated and comfortable. The waiting room is awful, small pokey not enough private areas for families and very poor facilities, no water coolers and just an expensive vending machine that quite frankly you couldn’t afford when you’ve paid for a weeks worth of parking at the hospital. ITU is one of the hardest places to be in the hospital and it’s staff need to learn how to be more compassionate and understand patients and families journeys with empathy and kindness instead of task orientated care that is the exact opposite.