Hospital guests want to scream

[jmh740]

Oh was taken to hospital at midnight with chest pains he was finally admitted at 7am I went home took him a bag of things and returned home at 8.30 slept till 11.30 ish so I am very tired and obviously worried. Oh is on morphine and other pain killers is in pain and is trying to sleep he was in a side room by himself but they needed the room so they've moved him on to a 4 bedded bay. The man in the bed opposite has 4 visitors and they are talking very loudly, oh is getting frustrated because he can't sleep or even really rest because it is so noisy. Is this just something you need to expect in hospital?

You go to the person in charge of the ward, at the desk, and you ask for someone to come in and tell them to be quiet. Don't they have a "two visitors only" rule anyway?

Some noise yes, but not as much as you're describing. There is normally a restriction on number of visitors too .... go find the ward sister and ask her to have a word

Hospitals do tend to be noisy places.
Are there visiting hours that can be enforced or an approachable nurse that could ask them to quiet down?

Then he needs to use the call bell and ask for them to be asked to leave if it's outside visiting hours, or if you're there in visiting hours then just say to them "sorry but my OH is feeling really really unwell and in pain please could you just keep your voices low for a bit so he can sleep?" People do need to be told sometimes to use a hospital voice not the same voice they'd use in the pub! Most people would be apologetic if they knew it was effecting an ill person, for those that would refuse and carry on I'd make a massive scene til they did shut up. Can't bear loud people in hospitals.

Hospitals are busy and noisy. YABU.

It's meant to be two to a bed and visiting is 2-8 I didn't really want to bother the staff they have more important things to do, but I can see oh getting more and more distressed, I expect hospitals to be loud and noisy but I also thought people would be more respectful and not have really loud conversations on a bay with 3 other people.

IME hospitals are fairly noisy places - but visitors should definitely be reminded that they are surrounded by sick people who need to rest!

At our local big hospital, there are signs saying "strictly only two visitors per patient at any time" - but I have noticed that they only tend to enforce this if there's an issue. Too much noise, visitors helping themselves to other patient's armchairs etc. If four visitors are sat around a bed speaking quietly & disturbing no-one, then generally they will be left to it.

Either DH needs to press his buzzer (if he is not well enough to get to the nurses' station) & ask for the visitors to be quietened down. I'm sure the ward staff will understand his complaint & agree with him if the noise is OTT.

OP you need to deal with it rather than post on here. Your poor OH.

Sorry - I missed that you were there yourself now.

Definitely ask a member of staff to have a word. You can even just tell DH you're nipping to the loo if you think he'd tell you not to bother.

Hope DH feels better soon .

Thanks everyone I didn't want to bother the busy nurses if I was just being over sensitive due to being worried and sleep deprived. Thankfully the guests have left now and oh is now dozing.