Kettering General Hospital

Kettering General Hospital 2018-02-04 Person 5 5 0

I had my daughter at Kettering hospital on 9th December. The care I received in the deivery suite was fantastic. Tia and Louise looked after me on the day. With Melissa in charge on the day. I was being induced, as my daughter was far to comfortable where she was! I spoke with the girls before the induction process was started. They listened to what I wanted. I like to be mobile during labour. They found a wireless monitor for me. Which meant I wasn’t hooked up to a machine. Melissa also came round in the morning to introduce herself and make sure my needs where being met. I had an amazing labour which was supported by Tia and Louise. After my labour I needed emergency treatment. Again the care was fantastic. Everyone in the room knew exactly what their role was. Whilst treating me, the doctors kept explaining, why they needed to do what they were doing. I felt in safe hands at all times. I then spent the night on a high dependency unit. I believe it was Denise who looked after me. Again the care and attention from her was amazing. My observations was that all the midwives work incredibly hard and were always in high spirits. I would highly recommend having your baby at Kettering. A huge thank you to everyone who looked after me and my daughter. Sorry if i’ve Got anyone’s name wrong.

Kettering General Hospital 2018-01-13 Person 2 5 0

I bought my partner to A&E on New Years day with flu like symptoms - except he was not able to hold fluids down. Luckily we got there at approx. 10am, were seen and put into what appeared to be a consultation room by about 13.00. My partner was in agony with - as it happens - symptoms of viral meningitis. We waited in this consultation room for 12 hours almost. My partner writhing about on the consultation couch in agony - because there were no cot sides I had to sit to ensure he did not fall off the couch, waiting up to 4 hours for pain relief, me having to beg reception for cups for the water machine and look around for blankets to scavenge because here wasn't enough to around. We had to bring our own pillow in also as there weren't any. No drip stands left so the drip bag was hung on to the window using a rubber glove. Outside A&E was filling up, people sat on the floor. It was so busy the poor nurse got my partners name wrong and that set us back 30 minutes on arrival to wait for blood to be taken. The staff were amazing- the conditions and lack of equipment that they were having to work with was almost like a third world country. Every time I went into the corridor to get help for my partner the staff avoided my gaze because they were so busy. It is horrific to see such skilled people trying to work in such an environment which reminded me of documentaries in the 90s about third world countries. After many hours my partner was transferred to a ward (approx. 23.00 at night) where he was finally found an isolation room in the medical ward. Again, staff were fantastic and he improved with antibiotics and antiviral and fluids. Unfortunately due to bed shortages he was moved from the medical ward to the cardiac ward. The cardiac ward environment was excellent, again cannot fault the nursing staff and the room was suitable for his needs - to be barrier nursed due to infection. Very impressed with this section of the hospital - modern and appropriate for use by staff. Unfortunately he was not as closely monitored it is felt by the medical team due to the fact he had been move I would assume and was now an 'overflow' patient. He was then moved again. To the ENT ward which was, quite frankly the most shocking area of all. He still required barrier nursing but was put into a room which no bathroom facilities. Due to infection risk he was not allowed to use the communal bathroom so an otherwise healthy man who was mobile was given a commode and urine bottles to use. There was a huge window on his room - with no curtain or blind facing straight out onto the main ward corridor. He could not shower or wash properly as he had no access - only to a small sink with no plug. His dignity had gone straight out of the window and no-one even apologised or gave justification for this. What is good - most of the staff we had working with us. Thank you!!!! Parking - although a complete rip off at least there is now the multi story (which I didn't use due to cost but we could get close for us to walk over to A&E) Room for improvement- The hospital is too small for the needs of the population. A&E department and older areas such as ENT need demolishing completely and rebuilding. Completely inappropriate in this present day. More single rooms and facilitates such as bathrooms for those with infections. More equipment so that staff can actually do their jobs properly. Even blankets and pillows! Doctors and nurses to share more information about the patients condition and plan of care. Always felt like staff were afraid to tell us too much. A plan for after discharge. The discharge summary said nothing about what if my partner relapses or signs to watch out for. In fact if we could move to a different catchment area so we don't have to attend this hospital again in an emergency we probably would.

Kettering General Hospital 2017-09-14 Person 2 5 0

Having recently moved to the area I attended Kettering General. The staff were kind and helpful. Even thought they were ran off their feet they tried their very best to ensure that care was of a good standard and patients were treated with dignity. This includes admin staff going out of their way to help me find my way around the hospital. Staff were honest and caring and appeared very smart. In regards to care I think that the best was done despite the ward being very busy. It was good to see locked cupboards being used for patients notes rather than being left on various sides. The hospital was generally clean. Improvements: 1. Staff nurses and doctors lack of knowledge in regards to the mental capacity act. Specifically knowing when to conduct a capacity assessment and not being afraid to do so in the patients best interest. 2. The hospital itself is very old and outdated. The décor on some wards were dark and dirty looking. Wooden panels had chunks missing, old windows fittings had paint peeling off in corridors - which could potentially harbour dirt and despite best efforts to clean. The corridors are very narrow especially some of the stairwells. Realistically the Treatment Centre appears more in line with what I would expect from a hospital in 2017. Some of the curtains around the beds were stained and looked worn, I would have expected disposable curtains in line with infection control. There were some pieces of new equipment such as chairs, and tables over beds for meals however, again most was worn looking. There is a lack of rooms in which patients/ carers can have private conversations with staff which is a confidentiality issue. With many conversations happening in corridors due to lack of privacy. In all I would be happy to receive treatment from the staff at this hospital, but in a completely different building and improved knowledge around The Mental Capacity Act legal framework.

Kettering General Hospital 2017-09-03 Person 3 5 0

Very concerned about difficulty/impossibility of accessing follow up care at weekends and bank holiday after surgery. Sitting in A&E is not best cure Consider that dressings likely to cause skin damage on removal are used. The after effects are another misery experienced alone at home by patient(s)

Kettering General Hospital 2017-07-26 Person 5 5 0

Kettering General Hospital 2017-07-26 Person 5 5 0

Kettering General Hospital 2017-07-19 Person 5 5 0

Thank you Krishnan you have made me pain free!! You have cared for me so well.

Kettering General Hospital 2017-07-19 Person 5 5 0

Everything was extremely good.

Kettering General Hospital 2017-07-19 Person 4 5 0

The person to person.

Kettering General Hospital 2017-07-19 Person 5 5 0

Very good caring and pleasant.