For one reason or another, myself and another member of staff spent the night up Royal Stoke A&E with a patient,
Without giving owt away, this person couldn't be left with just 1 member of staff, there had be 2 there all the time. Not once were we offered a cup of tea or water in the 10hrs we were up there, only got given a chair at 5.30am this morning. It wasn't like they were rushed off their feet or anything, in fact, the staff spent a lot of time at the nurses station talking about their partners and what they were like round the home.
We waited almost 4hrs to be seen by a Doctor, I had to ask if we'd been forgotten about because we'd waited in reception for so long. Within 2 mins of my asking, boom, someone appeared. It was only when the nursing staff were examining him that we had the chance go the loo.
My point is, i've never experienced this sort of treatment at Stafford/County/DGH. Staff up there are lovely, and helpful. I just hope the merger with St.Georges gives them all a kick up the arse that's needed. Sorry if i've waffled, i'm no good at getting my feelings across.