Share review of Diana Princess of Wales Hospital

Diana Princess of Wales Hospital 2023-05-15 Person 3 5 0

I wasn't aware that I could be part of decisions. I just thought that doctor's and nurses make the decisions as they know what to do whereas I wouldn't know what would be in my best interests, hence why there is a lot of trust placed upon staff from patients. You're seen by one person then back in the waiting room, back to see another person then back in the waiting room and so on. You're not told how long you need to wait between them. There's a lot of waiting, and for someone with a bad hip those chairs are not comfortable at all. You are kept informed about what procedures they plan for you such as blood tests, ECG's, X-Ray's just not when you're going to get them. It might be 10 mins or 10 hours there's just no way of knowing. What do you mean "Did I feel safe in their care?" Do you mean safe in the waiting room with two separate lots of police with cuffed prisoners, or a room full of waiting patients, and one kicking off cos he couldn't get what he wants? Or did you mean I felt safe with staff? Or safe in they know what they're doing? This occasion made me realise that staff are protected behind screens or locked doors but waiting patients would be at the mercy of security if something got serious. I think the staff are amazing if they have to tolerate that night in day after day. They're all saints and yes of course I felt safe with them. As for food and drinks, none were provided. I was there from 11.30 pm till 6.30 am the following day. Not once was I offered a drink. The only water I had was to take medication. There is no drinks vending machine. The vending machine was empty of food and nothing in there for people with other dietary needs. On top of this not everyone can use vending machines. As someone with limited mobility. I cannot bend down to reach if vending machines dispense at the bottom. More modern vending machines dispense st the side which is easier for people like me. A bit of thought needs to go into this please. I think at the very least I should have been offered water. The whole of the A&E department looked clean, and there were frequent cleaners coming down sweeping, wiping surfaces etc. All of the staff that I dealt with treated me with dignity, compassion, respect and kindness.

The bit that frustrated me on this occasion was the fact that I had to come back three times for my prescription. Each time it was filled out incorrectly which was concerning. The other thing that could be done better is to offer drinks to patients, and food if they've been there for several hours. Dnt rely on a vending machine being present, not everyone has money, and some of us cnt use then.