"Feedback about Ebony Ward"

My mother passed away in Ebony Ward in October 2016. I've left it a while to make sure any comments are fair.

Compared to other wards she has been in which were very good to excellent it appeared to be far more inferior in Ebony Ward. Spruce Ward next door was excellent though she was transferred to Ebony as a serious stroke victim was to be admitted.

For several days a patient who appeared to be suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer's wandered around Ebony Ward with a member of staff following him. He was a tall man whilst the lady following was small and unable to control his movements. Once he wandered in to my mother side ward, she was an MRSA carrier. Fortunately I was able to block his path to her and he eventually moved on.

On another occasion a blood test was carried out, and a figure of 2. 9 was given. A glucose drink was prepared by a member of staff to be administered. Witnessed by my niece. A nurse arrive to do a blood pressure test and I managed to persuade her to do another blood test. She did this twice with a figure of 6. 8. Fortunate indeed but worrying if basic checks are wrong. The nurse did inform this member of staff - my niece told me the member of staff had said she was not sure about these tests at the time, or words to that effect.

Of concern was the attitude of one of the ward staff to another lady patient in a side ward. The patient came out of the ward asking the member of staff for help as she did not have a number of items.  In a loud voice they  said the patient would just have to contact her relatives, storming out of the ward to the exit corridor. The lady was left in tears.

The day before my mother passed away. About 7pm in the evening, a doctor gave both my mother and myself the details of her medical condition. She was to go to a Hospice or back to her Nursing Home, which she chose to, the following week, if the doctor thought it suitable. This interview with the doctor was excellent. She did say that patients are often forgotten in these side wards - again worrying.