Reviews
Reviews
The nurses in Oncology and particularly in the Charles Dickens ward are truly superb, very special and they take away any fear of attending.
Sorry for the detail of my review.
On Friday this week, my wife developed a bloodshot eye and was concerned it might be due to hypertension. Using my blood pressure device it showed her pressures to be 184/89.
Fairly alarmed, she rand 111 who told her a doctor would call back. No call, so I gave her one of my Ramipril tablets and the pressure reduced. Next day, the pressures were very high again so phoned 111 and were told again that a doctor would call back. No call. So, went to A&E at Maidstone, nervous of strokes or heart attacks.
Hopeless. We were "received" by a scruffy guy dressed in oversized fatigues, who filled in a form and gave it to us and told to wait in the queue. After 10 minutes we were seen by a receptionist who asked a few more questions and we were told by her to sit in the waiting room to be called. After 30 minutes or so we were called by a young person who took us to a room and filled in some more details on a computer and were told to go back and in the waiting room again. NO further information was given to us at this point. After we had been there for three and a half hours, a woman in a pale top told us to sit around the corner as they "were running 1.5 hours early" and we would be called imminently to see a GP. Earlier than what, we hadn't been told.
1 and a quarter hours later we were still waiting. The shift had changed and the woman who'd told us to move had gone home.
My wife was becoming more and more anxious about her blood pressure which according to advice on the internet "was at emergency levels".
So I went to the desk to ask why we hadn't been called in as promised. "We can't help whose notes they pick up from the tray"
To cut a longer story short, we were treated as objects, shown disrespect, but got to see a doctor eventually after five hours. She was ok, a little arrogant and dismissive but what is the difference between a doctor and God? God doesn't believe he's a doctor.
The feedback question above is posed "Say what is great about...." which indicates a lack of humility.
Overall, the problem for me is that while everyone waits for some sort of service, there are so many "staff" who appear to be unproductive, some of whom won't go the extra to improve communication which for us, was really poor.
Staff were friendly
I am currently being treated at Maidstone oncology and my care has been outstanding.
Attended the Chemo Information and Video Session. What a great initiative- so helpful going forward
Appointment times are an issue in that there is usually a delay, which is frustrating.
Staff and care are amazing.
The times I have visited Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals I have found the staff friendly, helpful and professional. All my questions were answered thoroughly. I have no complaints with anything. I know many people have so many issues with the NHS but since going into hospital in January and my visits as an out patient I cannot fault the treatment I have received.
Kind, compassionate, caring, smiles everywhere, beautiful people, making a long day , a special day , receiving chemo from these amazing people , I feel truly blessed
Visited a and e on 24 Jan - evening and again on 31st Jan - day. Received very thorough and caring treatment on both occasions. As a blood cancer patient having tested positive for COVID in early Jan I was apprehensive about attending but all staff , and both excellent doctors, were very caring, clear and , I felt, extremely thorough. I was given numerous tests of all kinds and felt very glad to have attended on both occasions.Covid test results remained inconclusive but I have now been referred to 'COVID virtual ward'. Very Many thanks to all staff for their care and thorough approach.
Lovely hospital and staff.