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Original poster

It feels like I'm in a private hospital! Why are some hospitals so much better than others?

23 replies

lokss · 15/12/2022 16:13

Just that, really

Why are some Trusts so much better than others? The treatment, staff availability, offerings of sandwiches, biscuits, juice and crisps (I am a parent, not a patient)

I have 3 other more local hospitals and they are... bad.

Has anyone else noticed this?

OP posts:
Original poster
lokss · 15/12/2022 17:13

Bump

OP posts:
DenholmElliot11 · 15/12/2022 17:14

Which one is it? Some of them are lovely because they are in nice areas.

BetterBee · 15/12/2022 17:18

Teaching hospitals tend to be better as they have decent funding

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General health
ItsNotReallyChaos · 15/12/2022 17:22

I live in the South. I have recent experience of hospitals in the NE England, London and in Bucks.

Three very different experiences. Hospital in the NE felt like very good care. Short wait to be seen, good facilities, civilised wards, clean, nurses available when needed, I felt safe.

London: dealing with lots of patients but they have systems in place to cope with that. Clean, civilised, good level of care, I wouldn't hesitate to attend A&E if I really needed to.

Buckinghamshire: keep away at all costs. A&E absolute chaos, extremely long wait (5 hours' wait before initial triage), toilets a health hazard, seeing distressing things in the waiting room as horribly injured people left waiting. I was admitted and my bed had either food or excrement on it (not mine). Nurses wonderfully caring and competent but they are severely short staffed and cannot keep on top of everything as they are. The thought of needing to use A&E fills me with dread.

Original poster
lokss · 15/12/2022 18:03

ItsNotReallyChaos · 15/12/2022 17:22

I live in the South. I have recent experience of hospitals in the NE England, London and in Bucks.

Three very different experiences. Hospital in the NE felt like very good care. Short wait to be seen, good facilities, civilised wards, clean, nurses available when needed, I felt safe.

London: dealing with lots of patients but they have systems in place to cope with that. Clean, civilised, good level of care, I wouldn't hesitate to attend A&E if I really needed to.

Buckinghamshire: keep away at all costs. A&E absolute chaos, extremely long wait (5 hours' wait before initial triage), toilets a health hazard, seeing distressing things in the waiting room as horribly injured people left waiting. I was admitted and my bed had either food or excrement on it (not mine). Nurses wonderfully caring and competent but they are severely short staffed and cannot keep on top of everything as they are. The thought of needing to use A&E fills me with dread.

Sorry to hear of your bad experience Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
lokss · 15/12/2022 18:03

DenholmElliot11 · 15/12/2022 17:14

Which one is it? Some of them are lovely because they are in nice areas.

Interesting. It's Addenbrooke's. So Cambridge sort of

OP posts:
MollyWarlockLordVoldemort · 15/12/2022 18:08

I’ve been in hospital recently and had very different experiences of non medical things in different areas of the same hospital. Cups of tea, offers of sandwiches while waiting etc in one assessment area vs non in others.

MolesOnPoles · 15/12/2022 18:15

I wondered this. In my recent experience of childrens wards, Salisbury is like a youth hostel with big private rooms and jolly staff. Kings is SERIOUS - you feel you’re getting the very best medical expertise in the country, but you’re on a noisy production line to do so. Both did the job so no complaints.

LauraDLoves · 15/12/2022 18:19

I was at Addenbrooke’s today and the care was top notch. Really hope the government does more to recognise and support these amazing people.

user1483473283 · 15/12/2022 18:19

@lokss also a parent currently in and out of Addenbrookes with DS and will be attending long term with him too. Our experience has been fantastic with them so far. I did wonder if it’s due to the nature of the ward we are on - trying not to be too outing!

Twizbe · 15/12/2022 18:25

Addenbrooks is a massive teaching hospital and it attracts good staff.

It's always had a pretty good reputation. I used to go to one of the cafes a lot for lunch when I was in 6th form lol

DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 15/12/2022 18:28

I work at Addies. Truly, my colleagues are some of the best in the world.

Original poster
lokss · 15/12/2022 18:39

DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 15/12/2022 18:28

I work at Addies. Truly, my colleagues are some of the best in the world.

Yes I can certainly see that! Not one frown or member of staff looking like they'd rather be elsewhere. Such lovely, professional people

I have been blown away

Seen so many bad apples and shocking standards of care in other hospitals looking at you Listed hospital

OP posts:
Original poster
lokss · 15/12/2022 18:40

*lister

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CMOTDibbler · 15/12/2022 18:43

I think its all about leadership tbh, my parents were in and out of three hospitals in the same city for years. One of them, with the exception of the elderly care ward was just appalling in every way from communication, care, food, staffing and bed availability that my path to PALs was well trodden. The orthopaedic hospital was great clinically, but the care aspect was awful. The other hospital, care was excellent, really good food, amazing clinical care and joined up thinking and communication. Literally like day and night.

2022again · 15/12/2022 18:46

even within the same hospital you can get very different care and attitudes on different wards ( my particular job meant you see patients on different wards)...I think the quality of the senior nursing team and the medical team for that ward really sets the tone for the level of dignity and respect they afford to patients and their families.

Kazzyhoward · 15/12/2022 18:47

The NHS is very fragmented so it's no surprise that different parts are run better/worse than others. Different trusts, different depts, etc have different management who prioritise different aspects.

Even within the same hospital, the "experience" can be very different between different departments, right down to whether they post out appointment letters or text/email/phone - such differences can literally happen with reception desks literally just a few feet away from each other.

Even the same dept, you get different "experience" depending on the staff on duty. My OH has 4 weekly infusions for his cancer treatment, same room, same treatment, but sometimes he gets offered a mid morning drink/biscuit and/or a sandwich at luncthime - other times, he gets offered nothing, and he says it's not dependant on how busy they are, just which staff are on duty - he knows most of them now as he's been having his infusions for 2 years!

Selfesteem22 · 15/12/2022 18:47

I have been to adenbrooke a lot for a whole variety of things both for me and my family - for the most part the care was amazing but none of it seemed like a private hospital, the rosie is pretty nice - and Papworth now on same site is very new and I have heard has more those vibes

shrubshrub · 15/12/2022 18:59

I think it's down to leadership. I agree with the PP about Buckinghamshire. I've moved here and I'm absolutely shocked. Been to three hospitals in separate areas.
Last time was at a minor injuries unit. Hardly anyone in there and they decided to pack up while I was waiting and lock the doors 15 minutes before closing time. Some poor sod then turned up almost straight after they locked the doors and the receptionist stood shouting at them through the intercom to go away to a&e.

Then three nurses came out and started asking what was going on. They then rushed me through. Was utterly ridiculous and the man outside was bleeding. Not sure if it's the norm to shut up 15 mins early though but why advertise a time online for when you can't walk through the doors.

AnnaMagnani · 15/12/2022 19:11

Addenbrookes sucks in all the money, contracts and staff from the neighbouring areas.

Result is it is surrounded by struggling hospitals while it delivers an amazing service.

Having been to a private hospital though, Addenbrookes is nothing like one. Did you have L'Occitane toiletries in your private bathroom and an endless supply of Vogue back issues Xmas Wink

Georgeskitchen · 15/12/2022 19:15

Good management.
It's good to know some of them.are actually earning their huge salaries!!!.
My niece has worked in numerous hospitals and she says the waste of resources I horrific in some. Others have a toxic bullying culture, laziness, awfu management.
Others have been great with strong management and a good work ethic. She also had also had spell I the private sector and Said some of the a stuff going on in the NHS wouldn't be tolerated. They would be out on their ear

PinkSnowAndStars · 15/12/2022 19:27

I’m in Bucks.

its really that bad. It’s not the fault of A&E. It’s the pure volume of people needing to use it.

we are all burnt out, knackered and can’t take much more.

Paramedics have said a few times this week that neighbouring hospitals are struggling too, so I’m surprised to see bucks mentioned so much within the first page.

we are trying though.

Summerhouse2013 · 15/12/2022 19:58

South West here - Exeter.

Husband had sepsis 2 years ago during covid. We almost lost him at one stage.
The staff were amazing. I was allowed a 1 hour slot to see him each day. He had his own room, was treated with dignity.

Food was good, I was offered a drink too when I visited.

Everything about husband's condition was explained to me daily as he was so poorly he could forget what he had been told.

I'll always be grateful for what they did....

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