SIR – I was admitted to Ward 11 at BRI on Friday, September 14, for surgery and went home on Sunday. I have a lot of sympathy for dementia sufferer Margaret Taylor and her family after the 80-year-old walked off the secure ward (T&A September 20), it must have been a traumatic time for them.
On the other hand, I have a lot of sympathy for the excellent overworked staff on Ward 11.
On one occasion the phone rang 54 times before anyone was free to answer it. It disturbed patients, but nurses cannot leave poorly patients who need their care, just to answer a phone.
The patient in the next bed to me waited for hours for her morning dose of antibiotics, the lady opposite me waited more than an hour for an anti-sickness injection during the night – I sat with her for a while to try and help her. There were several patients with dementia on the ward, all difficult to look after.
The nurses on that ward worked non-stop, and it was obvious to me and other patients that they were at breaking point. There are too many patients and not enough staff.
The staff on Ward 11 should be praised for their effort and not blamed for people going missing from the ward. The people to blame for all this are those in Government and their cuts to the NHS.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of staff on Ward 11 for the excellent care they gave me.
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