Woking Community Hospital

Woking Community Hospital 2018-08-10 Person 4 5 0

Answering on behalf of my relative, who has Alzheimer's & cannot do this for himself. It's taken 8 months from the first time I asked the medic in St Peter's Hospital for a dementia test to receiving the diagnosis. In that time, my relative has seen a number of medics & social services people who have all impressed how vitally important it is to get a dementia diagnosis - "and quickly!", they all say. However, try as I might, at times it seemed impossible. Much time was wasted battling with the GP to get a referral for assessment (why, I know not). Then, after apparently getting on the assessment list with Bedser, it has taken 3 appointments over a period of 4 months to get to diagnosis. During that time my relative was declining noticeably by the week. Hence, the less than 5* answer on Q2 & Q3. However, when, ultimately, the Liz Walters appointment came around, the time, attention, care and professionalism, not to mention truly outstanding skill she showed was nothing short of phenomenal. Liz did everything humanly possible to ensure that my relative was the very best that he could possibly be during the dementia test. She prepared him well, introduced the questions gently & slowly built up the pace. She gave him breaks, so that it didn't feel like a gruelling interrogation; she deftly checked back to verify his responses were the appropriate ones, without making him feel 'put on the spot'; and she went out of her way to insert, randomly, small vignettes to help put him at ease with himself. Altogether a masterly performance and worthy of the highest merit. The follow up conversations, letter & literature, and impletmentation of treatment (involving the care home, GP, etc) has also been consultative, timely & faultless. If I'm allowed to say it on this form - A big Thank You, Liz - we're all really very grateful & our relative is noticeably improving! [As an aside here, I would say that there really needs to be some sort of public information put out & better transparency as to: 1. Who should consider seeking a dementia diagnosis (for whom & why it's important); 2. How one gets a dementia assessment; 3. What that diagnosis will ultimately assist with/enable; 4. Where to get a diagnosis (and make it much easier than it was for my relative!). 'Dementia' seems to occupy a 'closed area' within our society. It needs to be as normalised/normatized within society as influenza and dealt with according to the needs of it's client-base.]

Woking Community Hospital 2018-07-30 Person 5 5 0

I went to the X-Ray department at the Woking Community Hospital to make an appointment and was given the X-Ray there and then. Really helpful as it will speed up the time taken for a diagnosis.

Woking Community Hospital 2018-07-20 Person 5 5 0

I thought the walk in centre was absolutely marvellous. I needed to see a nurse to have some stitches removed from an injury when I was abroad. My GP practice nurse was fully booked for ages ahead so I went to the walk in centre . I think I had to wait about half an hour but that was fine. Everything was perfect and I was completely happy with the treatment I received.

Woking Community Hospital 2018-07-15 Person 1 5 0

The nurses could actually help the patients when they need it.

Woking Community Hospital 2018-07-15 Person 5 5 0

Woking Community Hospital 2018-07-15 Person 5 5 0

Woking Community Hospital 2018-07-05 Person 2 5 0

My relative has actually come out of hospital in a very similar state to when she went in and I wish we hadn't bothered with any of it. The ward is nothing like as good as Cherry Ward in St Peter's Hospital. Definitely not enough staff. Some are good, others less so and should be weeded out. Not enough hands-on management of the whole ward - staff should be kept a better eye on. Some staff don't look you in the eye which isn't a good sign. The red button buzzer is always ringing and no-one seems to bat an eyelid. Looking at the computer is obviously more important than attending to patients. Also attending to toileting issues is something that can wait too. Some of the general staff do not appear "keen" or "enthusiastic" or come across as really caring - it appears more of a job and less of a vocation. One obviously did not want to be there which was very unprofessional - she should have been taken to a room to cry. The Doctor is not easy to understand, in fact I would say that applies to many of the staff. This is a big issue for elderly people who are often hard of hearing, may not really know what is happening to them and also are not used to strong accents. Speaking loudly and slowly with a greater degree of articulation would help a lot - I would actually say that was a basic requirement of working with the elderly. To say that "we don't deal with dementia here" is just ridiculous for a geriatric ward - absolutely ridiculous. It should be a priority to deal with it as it's so prevalent. Food seems reasonable. If the physiotherapy isn't relevant to a patient's circumstances then it's a waste of time. Notes are written in the Ward Book and never acted upon. Discharge papers were shocking, incomplete and local GP not advised until I rang them. Will do everything possible to avoid returning.

Woking Community Hospital 2018-06-13 Person 5 5 0

Woking Community Hospital 2018-06-13 Person 4 5 0

Lady who did X-ray was very nice and sympathetic.

Woking Community Hospital 2018-06-13 Person 4 5 0