Royal Blackburn Hospital

I have been living with a diagnosis of cancer which needs to be constantly monitored. I have been given three referrals for appointments in Urology and with specialists to look at my bowel and gallbladder. Each of these has breached the six month mark and I am not given much feedback or explanation as to why they are cancelled. I am very concerned that, given the nature of what I am living with, something will be missed.

Most of the nurses I came across showed very little to none care or compassion. I was in so much pain asking for stronger pain relief and I was told at 8am this would be prescribed by the Doctor, at 4pm my relative had to go and tell them that I had been waiting for this since morning and then they got it prescribed. The few nurses who were supposed to be my nurses never once asked if I’m okay, no eye contact unless I spoke to them. Mostly out of the bay day and night. Second day after I had a procedure done and had some stronger pain relief I experienced a very scary time this may have been a reaction to the analgesia as it was my first time taking this. I told the nurse my throat was very tight and I had neck stiffness I was feeling very unwell and she just replied ‘it happens’ and the nurse I was trying to talk to wasn’t even looking at me she said that with her back to me so I said can you please look at me I’m trying to talk to you with so much difficulty, she said well I’m just looking at your notes on the computer, and my friend who is a nurse was also present by my bedside. We are both nurses and this was absolutely appalling to experience the care and service on this particular ward was very disappointing. I am disgusted with how I was spoken to as a patient and even when I told them I am a nurse myself I would never speak to my patients like this. I was unable to eat for days I was very weak and vulnerable, i could only drink sips of water, I asked if I can have fluids prescribed. The nurse very cheekily said you can eat and drink you don’t need fluids. It was like having to explain myself over and over again, how can you say that when each time you take my meal I haven’t managed it or my jug is full. You haven’t monitored my urine to know I’ve only passed urine once all day. I had to ask her again to ask the doctors for fluids. In the end that night, there was a doctor talking to a patient in my bay and when they finished I asked if I could speak to him and he immediately listened and understood me I was so upset and he said don’t cry because you don’t want to restrict your breathing he said he will go right away and tell the ENT doctor to come and see me. He listened and I felt heard. On the other hand, some nurses I came across were ignorant and rude. No care or compassion or communication.

I was unfortunately sectioned and taken to one of the units here. The section was unnecessary and would have not been needed if a simple urine test and blood test had been carried out to see I had delirium caused by an infection.
Whilst on the unit, I met some nice staff but the majority unfortunately were not nice and an internal investigation is under way thankfully. Avoid at all costs where you can and if you have a loved one here, ask the ward manager to get them out and move to a better hospital. You do have a right even when they are sectioned and they should release them within 72hours.

We were admitted to the Children's observation unit with suspected serious illness. We were referred by the 111 service and were admitted for a period of around 6/7 days. What impressed us was that the staff were very quick to ask if there were any adjustments that needed to be made to make sure that the care package fitted around the needs of my child. They took great care to make sure that they did what they could to make the stay as comfortable as possible.

One group member commented that they have a health passport which they carry
around with them. During an appointment at Royal Blackburn Hospital the passport
was passed on to the nurse and the doctor but at no point did they refer to it.

My operations were cancelled at the last minute which proved difficult as all the arrangements had been made.
I received a lot of information and care before and during my stay in hospital but on leaving I received no follow up information. I would have felt better if the patient had a telephone number to call if they were unsure or worried about anything.
On the subject of hygiene although it appeared clean on the surface, I observed that the cleaners were not moving furniture so I don't know what it was like in the corners or under the beds. There was a blocked toilet that hadn't been fixed for 24 hours.

I thought there was a lack of basic care by the medical and nursing staff. I felt the staff had no compassion.
The hospital was very busy and I know that the staff were busy but no-one kept us up to date.

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Happy with everything including food. Doctor / Consultant was fantastic.