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"Poorly trained or inappropriate cleaning staff behaviour"

About: Sydney / Sydney Eye Hospital / Hotel Services (Cleaning and Porters)

(as the patient),

I was attending the eye hospital for some investigation testing. 

I was treated well by all administration staff and doctors and I highly commend them.

I was very nervous from my condition and was anxious about the waiting period between tests. But the staff were very supportive. 

I had my young child with me as suitable alternative care wasn't available to me on this day.

Whilst spending the many hours in the waiting area. My child required to go to the toilet.

We approached the 3 toilets in the waiting area and noticed a cleaner at the door of the disabled toilet. And said to her can we use 1 of the toilets. She said no. I looked at all the doors and they had the lock turned to engaged. I said are there people in the other ones. She said yes. Wait 5 mins. I believe this could have been an opportunity for her to advise the location of other facilities we could use as not being familiar with the site. 

We waited 5 plus minutes as she attended to the disabled toilet with no one coming out of the 2 unisex toilets. The call of nature became more urgent so I knocked on one of the unisex doors a few times and no reply. 

So I tentatively used my key to turn the engaged lock to free and opened the door and cubical was empty.

So myself and young child were able to attend the call of nature.

Once out, I believe  she gave me a very inappropriate look of disgust and I noticed their was also no one in the other unisex toilet cubical.

I would imagine good customer service would allow a patient to use the facility for the small inconvenience of a 1 minute wait from the cleaning staff and to lock all three out of use for cleaning during peak morning hours inappropriate.

About 10 minutes later this same staff member ran her cleaning trolley into me in the hall whilst I was waiting. My vision was even more compromised from the dilating drops I had just received and she didn't apologise, just continued to bash the trolley into me until I moved. 

This behaviour was totally inappropriate and showed a lack of customer service and consideration for patients with compromised senses. 

I was appalled by the behaviour and later retaliation 

All the other staff were amazing and very understanding and work in a professional caring manner.

I would hate to see the actions of 1 disgruntled, poorly trained inconsiderate staff member reflect on the visit to obtain advanced specialist care.

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Responses

Response from Jenny Wilson, Acting Director of Nursing & Support Services, Nursing Services, Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital 4 years ago
Jenny Wilson
Acting Director of Nursing & Support Services, Nursing Services,
Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital
Submitted on 30/04/2019 at 11:49 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 11:59 AM


Dear Sore shins

I am sorry that you were subjected to inappropriate behaviour from one the cleaning staff in the Outpatient Department. This is not acceptable and not in keeping with our CORE values. The Hotel Services Manager has been notified and will investigate further and counsel the cleaning staff.

Thank you, for also acknowledging the clerical and medical staff supportive care. Your feedback is valuable in helping us improve our customer service focus. Thank you.

All the best with your eye health.

Kind regards

Jenny

Acting Director of Nursing & Support Services

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Sore shins (the patient)

Please contact me if your require a photo of the vindictive rude person in question.

I imagine most of the other cleaning staff do a great job and are courteous and understanding of patients under stress in unfamiliar environments.

It would be bad to see one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.

I just wasn't comfortable posting a picture on a public forum as I believe this should be dealt with discretely and directed at the defendant rather than the others that are doing a wonderful job.

Thanks for your response and yes I do highly commend the medical and clerical staff.

Very supportive and compassionate whilst also being professional and through.

(Side note from Patient Opinion: We do not publish photos on our site).

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