Irvine Unit - another horror story

I was very interested in the Article in today's copy of the Bexhill Observer regarding the Irvine Unit. I was one of those who suffered from the poor standards there in February to March of this year.

Friday's Bexhill Observer highlighted problems at the unit. Here is another story - we have withheld name and address:

Having fractured my pelvis after a fall, and spending two days in the Conquest and being transferred in a sit-up ambulance, and being extremely ill all the way '“ I arrived early evening at the Irvine Unit to be told that they could not possibly take me as they had just closed twelve beds due to a vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak.

The ambulance personnel were angry as they were due to go off duty. There followed a furious exchange of phone calls to the Conquest and arguments between the ambulance and nursing staff '“ while I was left sitting there longing for a bed and some privacy.

The Conquest said they had not a single bed empty and could not possibly take me back but the nurses at the Irvine Unit, One staff nurse in particular, insisted they had no beds available.

Finally a nurse came forward to say "there is a single room vacant, you know at the end of the corridor. She could have that" and they reluctantly agreed to let me stay.

I was put on a fluid only diet for a few days, until they discovered I did not have 'the bug' after all!

I was allowed no visitors for several days even though I was in a single room.

After a few days peace, I was moved to a ward. On the other side was a lady who had, had a stroke and was extremely unhappy as she did not seem to be getting the care and attention that she needed.

Her daughter finally complained to occupational therapist who told her she would need to put in a formal complaint.

We were moved out of the ward into reception on two occasions and had to sit on hard seats for about four and a half hours while they deep cleaned that ward and then re-decorated it. We were not at all happy!

I was very thankful to move into a nursing home for a while to be cared for properly.