Northwick Park Hospital

The nurse was very engaging and explained everything easily so i could understand. Also she was kind and treated me with respect.

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The service and treatment I received were excellent and am delighted to write that the stent has cured the ache in my left arm, following the failure of one of the 3 bypass grafts, from 4 years ago. The surgical staff were very attentive and the ward care staff could not be faulted.

Quality of food, having been nil-by-mouth, for 17 hours could be better

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At 25 weeks Mum went into spontaneous labor and attended Northwick Park maternity. NICU were contacted to brief the parents on what to expect. Dr Ali briefed us. Rather than re-assuring us that although things were difficult; the unit was there to support us, and would do everything they could; the message was, your child is likely to have serious medical difficulties, with lifelong implications and there is a high chance they may die. This made a traumatic situation even more dire, and significantly contributed to the mental health of the Mum and subsequent counselling that was required. Mum was later transferred to QCCH (due to the gestation of the baby) and delivered there. The baby remained at the QCCH NICU for 2 months, before being transferred Northwick NICU, where they were cared for for 2 months Given our initial experience with Northwick NICU, we were extremely nervous about having our baby transferred. To help us feel more comfortable Sr Ping and Nurse Belinda gave use a tour of the unit, and an introduction to the Consultant on duty. They were extremely friendly, answered all our questions, and helped us feel a lot more at ease about the transfer. Key feedback points from our time on Northwick NICU include: Breastfeeding Mum wanted to exclusively breastfeed the baby, and the support provided by Nurse Emma was brilliant. She was encouraging, enthusiastic and made Mum feel relaxed. A note was made on baby’s chart that Mum did not want to use bottles. Despite this, Mum was repeatedly asked and encouraged to give bottles by other nurses. This was frustrating and upsetting. After removing the baby’s NG tube, the baby lost weight for the next couple of days. Per discussions with Emma this was to be expected, but as Mum had a more than ample milk supply this would not a concern and would cease when regular feeding was established. Three days after the NG tube was removed, Dr Ali told Mum she would have to top up the baby with a bottle post feed, as the baby was otherwise being starved. This conversation left Mum feeling distraught, particularly as the breastfeeding specialist worked part time and could not be accessed. In the end Mum called the breastfeeding specialist at QCCH, because she felt unable to cope, and there was no specialist available to her at Northwick NICU, due to the role being part time. Following this Mum raised her concerns with Dr Renton. Mum felt heard by Dr Renton and a new plan was arranged, Dr Ali later came to apologise. Discharge We would like to thank the unit for all of the support provided as part of the discharge process. We felt the staff understood the difficult journey we had had on NICU, and were ready to support us in the best way possible to ensure that when we were discharged we felt ready (thank you for Dr Renton for all he help and support with our journey, particularly in ensuring we weren’t rushed out of the unit). The time spent in transitional care, and rooming in was brilliant and did a lot to help with our confidence. Other points On a repeated basis we raised on concerns about how staff and other parents, were not following health and safety measures required as a result of being on a NICU unit and COVID. Receiving photos on the Badger app was wonderful, thank you to the nurses who took the time to do this, it meant so much to us. Dr Zieba went above and beyond to ensure that we understood the position regarding our babies brain development. In addition, we appreciated the time he would spend with us on ward rounds to discuss the baby’s current status, the future plan, and whether we were happy with it. The first aid training course run by Sr Faith and Sr Ping (we attended it twice), was literally life saving. After being discharged from the unit our baby caught COVID and stopped breathing. If we had not attended this course they may no longer be with us. A heartfelt thank you. Nurse Indera made us feel so welcome on our arrival, and taught us how to look after our baby and helped us to feel comfortable whilst in the Intensive Care room, thank you. Thank you to Nurse Una for supporting Mum in donating milk to the milk bank.

When briefing parents on the labor ward re-assure them that although things are difficult; the unit is there to support them. Continue to 1. offer tours of the unit to parents have babies transferred from other hospitals 2. Provide the fantastic discharge support Once Mum has established a feeding plan, ensure it is supported by all members of staff, and that they do not push and agenda that is preferable for them. Have a breastfeeding specialist available to Mums on a full time basis. Ensure the measures in place for health and safety are enforced.

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This review is about my antenatal care by bluebell and lavender teams as well as my postnatal care on day 5 and day 10. I wanted to mention my positive feedback for Karen higgins and Angelica postnatal care and breastfeeding support was fantastic. My antenatal care was great also - everything was clearly explained at each step. Constructive feedback: the private room on Florence ward (sunflower I believe) could do with new blinds that actually block out sunlight. It was impossible to sleep with all the sunlight streaming through. The window was left open (not sure this can be closed) but it let through so much noise.

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The management of patients is not efficient at all. Care is not great. We werein A&E - we have been here 6hrs and need bloods to be taken and it has still not been done. My mum is dehydrated so they brought a glass of water 4 hours ago but no jug so that will not assist her rehydration much. The nurse wanted to check her urging but has not left a call button for me to call her to get a bed pan or told me how to call her. Abs we are waiting for 6hrs to see a Dr. I feel the hospital could be far more efficient and patients would rotate out faster. I can hear chit and chat and lack of urgency of work.

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I’ve just come out of the clinic having both my bottom wisdom teeth taken out by dr. Tejav Patel. I honestly can not express enough how brilliant she is! I was a nervous wreck but she put me at rest and was very caring and professional! Above all, it didn’t hurt one bit! Absolutely brilliant dentist!!!!

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Lizzie the neuro physiotherapist was very good with my head movement. She enabled me to relax and got rid of my vertigo problem. her exercises really worked for me. before meeting her I suffered for many months with vertigo. Thank you Lizzie for your caring and professional help.

an early first appointment would have been beneficial for me.

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Firstly, the NHS is under huge strain and so we understand that Nurses and Doctors are struggling. I have to use the hospital regularly with my father I have seen the decline in the last two years. I know much of this is COVID, but there are issues that are massively affecting patient care and leaving families very distressed and this could be avoided. Many of the staff have a very poor level of English. I work for a global business so am used to this but the level of language and communication to patients and family members is dangerous. In addition, there are no ward clerks to advise family what is happening when loved ones have been admitted, particularly through A&E. My father has been into A&E twice in the last month, the first time he was there for 8 hours and then sent home stating he shouldn't have been there, 2nd time, he was admitted, the phone lines were down in the ward, no one could get through and my father discharged himself as he was not visited by a doctor for over 13 hours. In addition, patients were screaming asking for help and being ignored by nurses. The only department that seems to know what is going on is the Dialysis / Renal unit. A fantastically run department with true empathy and care for patients and families. The podiatry team are also lovely but have to refer to the vascular team who are dreadful. Someone needs to step in - the hospital is broken, the staff are broken and they have no support it seems. It is such a shame.

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Rubbish hospital. Communication with the doctors in the stroke unit is unheard of, different doctors do not know the same information. A consultant in the stroke unit was terrible rude, he could not even understand English let alone speak it. I would not trust my family members or friends setting foot in this hospital. They failed my family member and on that basis, I wouldn't trust them with my life whatsoever. They make decisions without the relatives knowledge and do as they please with no communication to the families. This needs major improvements, especially the care given, doctors attitudes, the look of the hospital looks like it will collapse.

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Empathy, understanding my overall needs and sensitivity shown to me.

It was all good

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