"Poor communication skills at Westmead Public Hospital."

I was in Westmead Public Hospital after hours and I felt the way the nursing staff I saw talk to people was appalling.

I felt there was an atmosphere of fear and power imbalance between staff I saw over patients that were there.

I was sent there by a GP for treatment and was told in what I felt was an aggressive tone by the triage nurse, no cardiologist is going to see you now, they're home with their family.

It wasn't the words they said that was the issue but the tone & facial expression.

I felt the staff member had such a facial expression of disdain, disgust for me the "bothersome patient" (in their view) + spoke in an aggressive, cutting and sarcastic tone.

I also witnessed another nurse very aggressively say to a man from a foreign background in pain requesting pain relief, speak English so I can understand you! And if you don't sit up properly (the patient was slouching over in pain) I won't give you the pain tablets.

I feel the staff I encountered are free to talk to patients whichever horrible way they choose, there does not appear to be any punitive measures in place, it seems there is no commitment to improve customer service/interrelations skills & I think hospital staff usually all close ranks/defend each other's actions.

It seems to me that patients live in fear of speaking up regarding the disrespectful mistreatment because when they do, nursing staff insinuate the person has a mental illness because they are angry and then writes that in their patient notes or they call security!