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The Princess Grace Hospital 2024-11-16 Person 1 5 0

Having been a patient at Princess Grace Hospital for the past three years, I feel compelled to share my experiences, which have taken a troubling turn. When I first started visiting, the hospital provided comprehensive and attentive care, but that has changed dramatically. I have found the hospital increasingly ill-equipped to handle complex cases. Cost-cutting measures are evident; I’ve seen nurses sent home early, and there's a growing reliance on bank staff who often lack the necessary expertise for specific surgeries. This shift has resulted in robotic, formulaic care rather than the personalized attention I desperately needed during vulnerable times. A troubling trend I noticed with the resident medical officers (RMOs) is their inability to make decisions without consulting the surgeons. At one point, I was seen by an orthopaedic RMO for a surgery that had nothing to do with orthopaedics. This lack of appropriate expertise was concerning and made me question the quality of care I was receiving. During my eight-day stay, not one nurse checked my wound, dressed it, or cleaned it. In fact, some nurses didn’t even know what surgery I had undergone. I was asked the same questions at least ten times by various caregivers, which felt redundant and contributed to a sense of disorganization in my care. Frustrated with the lack of support, I called a nursing firm for help. They sent one of their nurses to assist me, and I allowed her full access to my files. Unfortunately, the hospital refused to grant this access, and the nurse ultimately had to leave because she couldn’t do much without the necessary information. This situation highlighted the frustrating barriers I faced in seeking adequate care. Currently, the only edge PGH has is its “urgent care” department, which other hospitals don’t offer. I felt inclined to be admitted through this center, accepting the care I was given. However, I suspect that as soon as other private hospitals adopt a similar model, HCA hospitals will become less relevant. Accessing my medical records has been another significant issue. Obtaining them requires filling out a form and waiting up to 30 days, making it nearly impossible for me to transfer my care to another hospital if needed. This lack of timely access has only added to my stress. Furthermore, accessing my own blood test results has been a cumbersome process, often involving multiple calls up the chain of command. This has delayed critical information and fostered a sense of frustration and helplessness. I found it alarming that no blood tests were taken upon my admission or discharge unless I explicitly requested them. This should be a bare minimum standard of practice, as it is vital for ongoing safety and monitoring. Ignoring such basic protocols raises serious concerns about the quality of care. The atmosphere within the hospital felt apathetic, with many staff members hesitant to think creatively or advocate for my needs. Pain management was lacking, and it seemed there was a focus on discharging me as quickly as possible rather than ensuring I was genuinely ready to leave. Many experienced consultants have left for better opportunities elsewhere, and those who remain seem primarily focused on addressing immediate issues without a holistic approach to patient care. I suspect that many consultants want to maintain their reputation, but they can’t do that if the aftercare is subpar. I often experienced delays in response to my call bell, sometimes waiting up to 30 minutes. There’s even a clever trick where an untrained nurse would answer the call bell—likely to meet some arbitrary response target—only for no one to come for another hour. The experienced faces I once recognized have largely disappeared, leaving me feeling unsupported. It seems that the hospital is now more focused on becoming an extension of the NHS for financial gain rather than striving to be a standard of care to aspire to. If this continues, I believe PGH needs to prepare for an exodus of both patients and employees. On top of these systemic issues, I encountered numerous practical concerns that made my experience even more frustrating. Basic necessities like toilet roll had to be requested, and there were no hooks in the bathrooms for personal items. I struggled with low water pressure, lukewarm showers, and a lack of facilities like a douche or bidet, which are especially important for someone recovering from surgery. Additionally, there were times when essential medications were unavailable in the pharmacy, further complicating my care. I don't blame the nurses for the systemic failures I witnessed. The hospital has fostered a culture of fear that limits their ability to fully utilize their training. In fact, I believe many nurses deserve recognition for their individual performance, as their efforts were clearly constrained by hospital procedures. Ultimately, I became so fed up with the inadequate care that I decided to discharge myself from the hospital, even though I am in excruciating pain. I have requested all my notes (which will take 30 days) and informed my surgeon that I no longer wish to be treated at PGH. This decision means I will need to find a new surgeon and take a few steps back in my care, but it’s a risk I am prepared to take. Given all these factors, I strongly recommend that anyone requiring more than a day case consider seeking care at alternate hospitals. The decline in care at Princess Grace Hospital is disheartening, and I sincerely hope that management takes notice and makes the necessary changes to restore the standard of care that patients deserve. The community relies on this institution for its health needs, and it’s crucial that they prioritize quality care and patient well-being moving forward.