THE new hospital has recently been in the news, from the excellent care provided for some patients while conversely a Unison report detailing the problems from staff working there.

I hope a similar report is done from the patients and visiting relatives point of view.

My wife was admitted to hospital in April 2003 and again last week for severe breathing difficulties. In April, generally there was a lack of care shown her that has meant she has not been to bed since for fear of not waking up and has a real phobia about returning to the hospital.

One of many examples during her stay in April was nurses shutting the ward door and disconnecting patients' buzzers at night.

The nursing care this time is better, although she was moved around a ward last week with no oxygen and when she struggled was held down by three staff. She also still has to argue after each shift change about the time and type of medication she is provide with.

I thought the 'carry on nursing' era was over yet she is still woken to be given medication that she is only supposed to have when she requests it.

There appears to be no individual patient profiling done or hand-over between shifts, so that it's not uncommon for her to wait hours for painkillers or a commode!

Add to that the stress from visitors finding a parking space, paying high prices for everything or having to carry drinks up four levels and paying an average £10 a day for everything associated with a hospital stay, it is no wonder people get angry when they are ignored.

My advice for those with non-operations conditions is to stay away from hospital, as we've not found it improves your health. The sooner she can come home the better she will be!

And yes we have utilised the complaints procedure and hope that all those who complain while in the lifts or after their hospital stay do the same, otherwise we can't expect improvements.

JTA

Wootton Bassett