My first experience the staff were lovely, but the ward was dirty cramped hot and smelly. My baby was in PICU and I spent a lot of time sobbing as the lady in the bed next to me kept telling her family to take the baby home so she could rest at night, wouldn't comfort the poor thing when it cried and complained about feeding it at night. She used to have about 5 visitors, one under five, visit every day and eat a curry with her but the rules stated 2 visitors at max and there really wasn't room for two! I had to have an EMCS, so was immobile and very vulnerable and the womans husband walked through my curtains to come borrow my chair twice, although the third tome he did it I had a visitor who thankfully gave him enough of an earful he never came through my curtains again. The other six ladies on the ward and I were sick of her very quickly. Staff were polite but didn't have much time although they did try to help when they could. Noone from the neonatal ICU was talking to the midwives so I didn't even know how ill my DD was, when she got moved to specialist hospital they moved me to a private room, still dirty and cramped but at least it was quiet.
I can't even explain how different my experience with DD2 was, still NHS but a different hospital in a different county. (6months ago) I had a stay in before she was born, had a private room, it was quiet and had windows and a fan which meant I had complete control of the temperature bliss I had an issue getting my drip changed when it ran out (iv antibiotics and fluids) but a HCP when she realised that noone had been dealt with it quickly and even came and sat with me when i had a breakdown and couldn't stop crying, she must have been there half an hour calming me down and convincing me that DD2 was fine (my scans showed she was I was in because I was ill not her). They bought my meals three times a day and regularly came round to check i had water etc, they also changed the water in the hugs fairly regularly so it was never stale and warm.
After my planned section I was put on a 4 bed ward, it was bigger than the 8 bed ward i was on with DD1 and with only 4 of us sharing it it felt huge. Everyone had their own fan if they wanted it so it wasn't too hot and the nurses were lovely. Noone complained if I had my curtains closed, they supported me with breast feeding, and the other women + their visitors were always respectful. Bathroom was immaculate as was the ward and the food was really good. When i was in pain and paracetamol+ibuprofen wasn't cutting it they offered then produced oromorph without hesitation. Also when I was having issues toileting on night two a nurse took DDto the nurses desk where they cood over her cuddled her and got her to sleep while I spent about half hour on the loo, then bought her back to me. They were even surprised when they realised I was changing DD and lifting her in and out of the crib on my own on my first night because they said as I couldn't stand they were more than happy to help. I didn't need them to but the fact they offered and I knew help was there if it was needed was wonderful.
I am so sorry to hear so many hospitals are so poor, and although I'm horrified none of the stuff on this thread seems far fetched for some things I've seen in hospitals, but for anyone reading this thread who is about to go into hospital and may stay, there are good ones.