Sickeningly loud

HAVING recently spent some time in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, I want to say that I agree 100 per cent with the article by Lucy Elkins.

I was admitted for a quadruple heart bypass which took place on May 8. Whilst I cannot fault the actual surgical procedure, it was the aftercare that almost drove me to suicide.

As the article described, the noise of monitors, trolleys, bins being opened and closed and the general disregard for patients by the nursing staff chatting throughout the night did nothing to aid recovery.

In addition, the cardiac ward lights were left on in the corridors, shining directly on to patients’ beds. Very often alarms on monitors were left beeping all night and it was clear that on occasion, when older bank staff were on, they clearly did not know how to turn them off.

When I was discharged I simply slept for 24 hours and had I not gone home when I did I believe my recovery would have been set back weeks.

I would also like to add that, having spent 25 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps, I do have a very good understanding of what is meant by ‘good nursing care’ and this was sadly very much lacking in this particular hospital to the extent that I would describe it as dangerous and unfit for purpose.

PETER GRANT, Captain RAMC (retired)