"Recent care in ward G"

I’ve had some wonderful care up to recently so I want to compliment several nurses and provide a gift for each (10 gifts) I’d like to make sure they know I value them.

it’s not all positive sadly.

I also have a complaint- a rather large one. I’ll address separately. Mostly about the overnight shift recently. I felt it was disgusting treatment on ward G. This nurse came on and never introduced themselves, read my file or checked on me at the beginning

They never asked me what I’d been having.

I believe they didn’t know my meds.

They didn’t check my illness.

They left an empty water jug there for 5 hours - no water

I expected they’d know I had written up ibuprofen 2 coming up. They seemingly didn’t.

In the evening suddenly (as was the trend) fever spike and pneumonia came on strong. 3 times the call bell- they didn’t come. Finally arriving- I was in fever fit 39 degrees and coughing with pneumonia. I was distressed as I knew I needed Panadol/ ibuprofen whatever, to get thru. I recall the nurse said I wasn’t due Panadol till another hour. (6 hourly; I knew that) I said yes that’s why there’s ibuprofen written up. I recall they said where I can’t see it- no there’s nothing. You can’t have anything.

Of course distress followed and I asked for the ibuprofen - they wouldn’t listen. I got so distressed they took my BP at 185. They wanted to take it again manually. They did. I said to them write it up at 185.

I’m distressed by you.

Then the nurse finds out that I can have ibuprofen, it is in notes and finally they gave me it.

Too late. I had been thru the pain drama and anguish already.

I said I want to see coordinator and tell them to come here. Around midnight coordinator came into ward and asked two non med workers to leave as it was nearly midnight and in next cubicle (another issue). I said excuse me I’d like to talk? I believe the coordinator ignored me and walked out. I said call them back or I’ll get up and go over there.

I recall the nurse said no - it’s none of your business.

I got up and marched into reception with a list of time, events, comments and details of what I went thru and I formally sat down with coordinator and assistant and asked them to listen to what I had to say.

I recall they kept interrupting me saying I didn’t know protocol (yes I believe I did) that I should be patient, stop accusing their staff and I felt they tried to make me take a ‘calm down’ pill. It was so distressing. I believe other staff were all listening mostly saying I was probably a nutter and getting angry over nothing. I read the coordinator my notes and asked them to sign it- they refused.

I asked for both their names- they said you don’t need to know. Told to go back to my room and calm down.

when I arrived at reception I asked for a water. It never came. They said use the bathroom. About 30 minutes later when I’d finished my complaint, I asked again and got a paper cup with water.

Went back to the room -empty water jug not filled on my table. Coordinator came and I felt they tried to force feed me the calm down pill which I refused.

I did not like the senior staff also.

So distressed I tried to sleep. About 5 hours later I woke to overhear that over night nurse making a statement to staff about the events of the fever spike earlier (I recall they were giggling and laughing about me being nutso over Panadol within earshot) both staff laughing at my expense. I felt no compassion empathy or remorse.

Handover happened and they went.

I hope you are happy with how they treated me?