To thing my need for rest in hospital should trump another patients need to have 10 visitors

[Wigwambam10]

Basicly in hospital with kidney infection which is slowly getting better. I have had almost no sleep last night as the women in the next bed had 9 visitors till 11 last night and then had her telly on really loud till 2. She then called someone and was on the phone for a hour.

I asked a nurse last night to talk to her and ask her to be quiet only to be told she can’t do anything as it’s the ladies right.

This morning at 10 all the visitors turned up again and different people have come and gone all day. There have been people practically sat in my cubical and one even tried to sit on the end of my bed.
When DH came to visit me I was in tears as I am so tired and obviously feel ill so he and a word with the ward sister and most of the visitors were told they had to leave. The sister also said that the women will be told to keep the noise down tonight
Well the night staff are on and all the visitors are back. One has almost fallen through my curtain. I have talked one of the nurses who said “the visitors are not doing any harm”. I can tell it’s going to be as bad as last night.
I lost my rag about five minutes ago and shouted to the visitors to shut up and go home and give me some peace. They laughed at me.
I am on the verge of demanding they take out my drip then getting dressed and walking out. I need to sleep so badly. I am sat here with tears streaming down my face. Nurses have seen me but no one cares.

Well done Wigwambam. Hope you get some sleep.

In glasgow we have a new super hospital with all single rooms - bliss

That's ridiculous. Most hospitals have a 2 visitor per bed rule. Ask to speak to the clinical site manager now if the ward sister is that crap. I'm furious for you. I work in a hospital and that would not happen! Patients take priority.

I could cry with relief- in fact I am
The visitors have been told to go home and I am being moved to a one bed room that has “just” become available.
Funny I havebjust mentioned pals. Thankyou everyone I just couldn’t think straight.

I am still going to complain though as someone else may just suffer in silence

Why are the visitors still there if visiting finished at 8pm?

I'm sorry you're having to put up with that.

I'd get your husband to come back. Tell the nurse that you're so exhausted you need to go home and you want to see a doctor about your medication.

Ask to speak to the site practitioner: usually very senior nurse on duty for hospital and responsible for bed management overnight. They take on dealing with logistics etc and would be a good support. The nurse in charge will usually listen to them.

That’s awful OP. I hope you manage to get some sleep now x

In glasgow we have a new super hospital with all single rooms - bliss

Except the maternity wards

The two nurses are now very grumpy with me but I don’t give a shit. I will have a chat with the lovely ward sister who will be on tomorrow.

I remember when visting hours were restricted to 2 x 1hr (depending on hospital) per day. It felt horrible at the time, but having had hospital stays with the 'free for all' regime, when it comes to illness and getting better, overall 'visiting restrictions' are best for the patient and probably the staff too.

Obviously there could and would be exceptions to the 'restrictions' but if everyone understood and respected that 'rest' was best for the patient, after all hospital stays are so much shorter now.

Of course the inevitable chancers and pisstakers stating their case for 'their' patient to be an exception and waste valuable hospital staff time would be trying it on. But it's a thought though.

hurrah for a good outcome.
but what an awful.situation.

'The two nurses are now very grumpy with me'

Tough shit, they should have dealt with the situation properly when you asked them to. Complain, for sure. I hope you get a really good night's sleep

Great update, OP! Get some sleep and give them hell in the morning

Oh well done but yes complain if visiting ended at 8 then why are they still there and why until 11pm previous night.

Turns out my DH also rang the ward and asked how I was and was I managing to get any rest. The HCA just told me that with a wink

OP, no words of advice I'm afraid but just wanted to wish you a quick recovery Hope they kick the dick heads out. Using the bloody phone a 2am! I can't even begin to understand the night staffs attitude to this.

And as for your comment AndNoneForGretchenWieners, wtaf? When I was in hospital a few years ago it was headphones or no TV. Dp broke his leg a few months ago which ended up in a 5 night stay. No one on the ward even had a TV, those who had ipads etc used them with headphones and one bloke didn't have either so I took him in my kindle. The ward was so quiet, and that was not an oncology ward with very ill patients. I hope you made a complaint, it is disgusting that was allowed at all.

Hope you have a good night's sleep.

As PPs said you need to contact PALs, you need to put in a complaint.

That amount of visitors is unsafe! What if an emergency arises,
We never allow more than 2 visitors per patient on ICU and other wards I have bank on we are strict regarding visitors. Patients need rest when unwell!
Our trust has recently introduced open visiting 8-8 but we ensure all visitors have left by half past 8.

Only in special circumstances would we allow more than a couple of visitors.

Wow this thread jumped whilst writing the last reply! I'm glad you got this sorted OP, well done and do make sure you complain, it is terrible how you have been treated

Tell the sister you want to speak to the "Bed Manager" they are in charge of the hospital at night. The bed manager should kick the staff into touch & get them adhering to the visiting rules & tell the bed manager you would like to speak to PALs tomorrow, they should have an office somewhere in the hospital where your husband can pop in tomorrow to follow up. Ps if they refuse the bed manager then you or your husband call the main switchboard & ask to be put through to them, or a message taken giving your name, nhs number, ward & bed number.
The bed manager always kicks butt!! Lots of the wards have agency staff at night & they are usually a nightmare. Good luck.

As PPs said you need to contact PALs, you need to put in a complaint.

That amount of visitors is unsafe! What if an emergency arises,
We never allow more than 2 visitors per patient on ICU and other wards I have bank on we are strict regarding visitors. Patients need rest when unwell!
Our trust has recently introduced open visiting 8-8 but we ensure all visitors have left by half past 8.

Only in special circumstances would we allow more than a couple of visitors.

I had to stay in hospital after an unexpected home birth and this is exactly what it was like so I fully understand. Hope you have a good rest tonight.

It's just such a shame you have to accidentally threaten to go to PALS to get a decent night's sleep.

Glad they've moved you OP, hope you can get some rest tonight!

I was in hospital over the summer and I can empathise, no sleep for the whole duration and I ended up sleeping non stop when I got home.

It would still be worth making some kind of record of your issues as I'm guessing it'll start affecting more and more people if they've extended the hours and aren't enforcing the rules about maximum visitors.

Hope you feel better soon xx