Share review of Morriston Hospital

Morriston Hospital 2017-06-25 Person 1 5 0

I am apalled at the attitude of some of the qualified nursing staff and absolutely disgusted at the bad attitude and 'bullying' tactics used by two junior doctors and some consultants . I am a relative who was with a patient who had been addmitted to A/E then moved on to the Medical Unit. My relative is elderly and suffers with dementia and had been in the same hospital a few weeks previously. During this stay she was attacked by another patient ( who was not at fault due to illness ) overnight and therefore was extremely anxious at being left alone overnight on the ward. At the previuos admission her carer had been allowed to stay with her overnight and the Senior Nurses explained that they encourage people familiar to the patients with dementia to stay with them. This is not the case ! I explained the circumstances to the Staff Nurse in A/E and on the Ward of the incident but they both informed me and the carer that we should leave the patient , EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS TEARFUL AND ANXIOUS. The carer did infact stay with her. The medical ward and A/E is of course a very busy environment and whilst we appreciate the increased staff workload and it would have been impossible for them to be with her ,it does not excuse nurses and doctors being dismissive , rude and verbally aggressive towards patients and relatives. Infact it would have indeed helped the staff, yet they are more concerned about the 'system' and not the needs of the patient ! We even observed a qualified nurse being indifferent to an elderly patient on A/E whos visitors had left and even told the patient to stop shouting as it was ' upsetting other patients' ! Did they not think that an elderly person being in a strange environment might provoke anxiety , confusion , upset or it could be signs of early dementia ?? Shocking attitude especially as the hospital promotes itself as giving excellent 'dementia' training to all its staff ! The attitude of the junior doctors was also apalling and when I tried to offer information on my realtive's condition I was told that I was making the doctor 'feel uncomfortable'. Despite all this I have a Lasting Power Of Attorney for Health And Welfare for my relative , yet most staff , both nursing and medical disregard this and proceed to speak to my relative with dementia who isn't able to give a clear medical history , and not to myself.The second junior doctor the following morning was very abusive to us as relatives , at the bedside and even hit the vistor in the next bed as she drew back the curatin in a brisk and impatient manner !! When I askd the doctors name I was given a 'sticky' note by her and she also sarcastically asked if I wanted her registration number - she wasn't bothered by her bad attitude! Speaking to the consultant about the incident was a complete waste of time as he didn't seem very interested. This seems to be the problem at this hospital - the bad attitudes of some of the consultants and the 'bullying' of patients and relatives is seen by the junior doctors who therefore are given 'ammunition' to behave in the same way. Rude consultants filter rude junior doctors who then become rude senior doctors ! The hospital complaints / concerns system is hopeless , yes they have a 'system' which is supposed to encourage people to raise concerns but they are very poor in actually making necessary changes as we observe bad attitudes time and time again, and this has gone on for years ! The care itself falls extremely short of what it should be , including missed medication and full catheter bags in beds and not on stands is only two things of a list of many things and the list is very long ! It has left us as relatives distraught.