"Medieval hygiene"

I was placed in a room within a general ward (Castle) which had only a wash basin and paper hand towels for cleaning oneself. I was unable to leave the room and anyone entering was required to don an apron and rubber gloves - I had infected pneumonia.

I was also incontinent (sepsis) and without toilet facilities.

After 24 hours I was allowed a commode which required me to move my drip stand from the side of my bed to the end (where the commode was situated). Before using the commode (I was incontinent) I had to grab some paper towels and place them on the end of my bed before using the commode. Needless to say this was ineffective and extremely embarrassing. My wife had to take home one pair of soiled pyjamas that had been lying about my room for hours. On one occasion I over-reached for the commode and the cannula was pulled from my arm creating a spray of blood and whatever was in the drip to splash on the floor and the lower wall of my room (which I was informed was an "experimental pod".)

The next morning the cleaner (!) arrived and I pointed out the blood spill. They part filled the hand basin, dipped their hand into the water and splashed some on the floor near the blood spill.

They then used their dry mop (the only implement they were armed with for all of their cleaning duties) to rub over the area. Having removed the bloodstain they then left my room and proceeded to wipe around the rest of the ward with the same mop, thus spreading my infected blood throughout the ward.

Not once did I see any water applied to any floor during my 7 day stay.

My wife had to literally plead with the consultant to get me moved into a side room that had a toilet and shower attached, and it was with great reluctance was transferred after 3 days in the "pod".

My bed consisted of 1 undersheet and 2 oversheets. Not once during my several days in that room did anybody bother to change or tidy my bed.

The floors and walls were stained and even the nurse apologised for the condition of the room.

Even a motorway service are has a rota foe cleaning the toilets and cleaning is carried out every 4 hours.

Just compare that routine with the conditions in a NHS hospital - third world just does not describe adequately the appalling conditions that prevail in Warwick Hospital.

My wife and I have pledged to each other we will fight to the end (literally) to avoid letting the other be placed in Warwick Hospital again.

I find it shocking that no-one seems aware of the conditipns prevailing at Warwick.

All or any part of the above I would willingly repeat under oath should the opportunity arise.

Shamefully undermining the excellent diagnostics and medical attention I received and the superb care I received from most of the Senior Nurses.

They seemed to be the only ones who actually cared and the rest of Warwick Hospital catchment area should pray they will not allow their high standards of care and skill to slip.