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Colchester: Hospital’s ‘appalling hygiene’
A patient has spoken out about dirty wards and toilets at Colchester General Hospital.
She was admitted to Brightlingsea ward on Friday after suffering a severe nosebleed and haemorrhaging.
The woman, who was in for two days, said she witnessed nurses not using the provided hand wipes and failing to clean up properly.
She said: "I was shocked - the hygiene levels were absolutely appalling.
"None of the nurses seemed to be using the handwash provided on the beds and they seemed to be cleaning the beds between patients using baby bubble bath.
"After dealing with an incontinent patient, they washed their hands with water and didn't even clean the floor properly.
"That was left to the cleaner the next morning who used the same mop to clean the whole ward - I dread to think what was in her bucket."
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she had recently stayed at the specialist heart unit at Basildon Hospital and found the cleanliness there to be excellent.
A spokesman for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "We are sorry to hear that this anonymous caller is not satisfied and would urge her to contact our complaints department so we can look into this matter properly and, if appropriate, learn lessons for the future.
"Reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infections is a key priority for the Trust and the improvements we have made in this area were commended by NHS East of England only last week.
"Our infection control standards were also praised by the Healthcare Commission, an independent watchdog, following an unannounced hygiene inspection last August.
"Results of the 2007 national inpatient survey shows our patients feel the standard of cleanliness in our hospital is rising, all of which is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff."
6:03am Thursday 22nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: a hospital user, colchester on 8:08am Thu 22 May 08
Over the last 15 years my family have be in various hospitals and wards.
The old maternity home was very dirty. Showers covered in blood etc. This is partly down to the users and partly because the ward did not seem to get additional cleaning resources despite the fact that there would be high level of need.
Jefferson Ward by contrast was spotless. This is all thanks to the staff. The cleaners had worked together for some time had a system and were supported by other staff who were not too proud to clean as well if accidents happened. The Genreal Hospital we found to be variable some wards very good some very bad. It is all down to teamwork and best use of the limited resources they have available. A good team that pulls together keep a good ward. A ward full of jobsworths and you have a problem. [bold]WELL DONE JEFFERSON FOR YOUR HIGH STANDARDS OF CARE AND CLEANLINESS.[/bold]
Over the last 15 years my family have be in various hospitals and wards.
The old maternity home was very dirty. Showers covered in blood etc. This is partly down to the users and partly because the ward did not seem to get additional cleaning resources despite the fact that there would be high level of need.
Jefferson Ward by contrast was spotless. This is all thanks to the staff. The cleaners had worked together for some time had a system and were supported by other staff who were not too proud to clean as well if accidents happened. The Genreal Hospital we found to be variable some wards very good some very bad. It is all down to teamwork and best use of the limited resources they have available. A good team that pulls together keep a good ward. A ward full of jobsworths and you have a problem.
WELL DONE JEFFERSON FOR YOUR HIGH STANDARDS OF CARE AND CLEANLINESS. Posted by: anon, sadly in Colchester Hospital catchment area on 9:08am Thu 22 May 08
the Nursing staff when asked to improve their hygiene blame being under-staffed & over-worked, the housekeeping staff when accused of not cleaning dirty wards declare they haven't got the time........
& why does Colchester Hospital really want to implicate an Adopt-A-Ward scheme?
so the unpaid will do all the work for nothing.
Obvious!
the Nursing staff when asked to improve their hygiene blame being under-staffed & over-worked, the housekeeping staff when accused of not cleaning dirty wards declare they haven't got the time........
& why does Colchester Hospital really want to implicate an Adopt-A-Ward scheme?
so the unpaid will do all the work for nothing.
Obvious!
Posted by: Viv, Colchester on 9:18am Thu 22 May 08
[bold]If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.[/bold]
You get dirty hospitals and patients dying because of MRSA.
If you vote Labour you end up with a Britain that is going down the plughole.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.
You get dirty hospitals and patients dying because of MRSA.
If you vote Labour you end up with a Britain that is going down the plughole.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.
Posted by: anti benefit campaign, london on 9:38am Thu 22 May 08
Those that do work are being taxed out of existance. If benefit levels are not cut soon to get more people working this country will just close. We are becoming a third world country with dirty hospitals and poor schools all because too many people are too lazy to work and with the high benefits levels we have are not given any real incentive to work.
Those that do work are being taxed out of existance. If benefit levels are not cut soon to get more people working this country will just close. We are becoming a third world country with dirty hospitals and poor schools all because too many people are too lazy to work and with the high benefits levels we have are not given any real incentive to work.
Posted by: ME, Colchester on 9:55am Thu 22 May 08
[quote][bold]anti benefit campaign[/bold] wrote:
Those that do work are being taxed out of existance. If benefit levels are not cut soon to get more people working this country will just close. We are becoming a third world country with dirty hospitals and poor schools all because too many people are too lazy to work and with the high benefits levels we have are not given any real incentive to work. [/quote] Couldn't agree more !
anti benefit campaign wrote:
Those that do work are being taxed out of existance. If benefit levels are not cut soon to get more people working this country will just close. We are becoming a third world country with dirty hospitals and poor schools all because too many people are too lazy to work and with the high benefits levels we have are not given any real incentive to work.
Couldn't agree more !
Posted by: snackajack, colchester on 10:48am Thu 22 May 08
i agree, labour are to blame! funny enough Ipswich hospital is far cleaner than colchester hospital!
i agree, labour are to blame! funny enough Ipswich hospital is far cleaner than colchester hospital!
Posted by: DK, London on 10:59am Thu 22 May 08
[quote][bold]Viv[/bold] wrote:
[bold]If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.[/bold] You get dirty hospitals and patients dying because of MRSA. If you vote Labour you end up with a Britain that is going down the plughole. If you vote Labour you get what you deserve. [/quote] What about those of us that didn't? Do we deserve dirty hospitals because of the majority?
Hospitals are supposed to be cliical and clean, obviously the standards have been slipping at some hospitals for years, this isnt an over night problem. Surely the staff dont want to work in disease ridden wards? Or maybe they do so that they can sue the hospitals for money they clearly dont have. I agree that if the benefit system in this country wasnt so freely given away people might actually get off their a*se and actually do something for a living. Personally I am sticking with private health care, I think thats the only way any of us will ever be rid of these disgustingly dirty institutes.
Viv wrote:
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve. You get dirty hospitals and patients dying because of MRSA. If you vote Labour you end up with a Britain that is going down the plughole. If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.
What about those of us that didn't? Do we deserve dirty hospitals because of the majority?
Hospitals are supposed to be cliical and clean, obviously the standards have been slipping at some hospitals for years, this isnt an over night problem. Surely the staff dont want to work in disease ridden wards? Or maybe they do so that they can sue the hospitals for money they clearly dont have. I agree that if the benefit system in this country wasnt so freely given away people might actually get off their a*se and actually do something for a living. Personally I am sticking with private health care, I think thats the only way any of us will ever be rid of these disgustingly dirty institutes.
Posted by: Mal, Colchester on 11:36am Thu 22 May 08
I agree with Viv and sympathise with DK from London.
[bold]If you vote Labour you get what you deserve[/bold]
I agree with Viv and sympathise with DK from London.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve
Posted by: Hera, The Real World on 12:21pm Thu 22 May 08
Some hospitals/some wards break all the "rules and guidelines". Don't bother complaining or even raising a query with PALS or similar -confidential, my eye! You will probably be afraid to enter the hospital if you complain in your own name.
It's nothing to see a nurse sneeze wetly into her hand and go from one post-op elderly patient to another. Maybe she thinks she is doing the country a service? Knocking off another pensioner, whoopee!!
There are fabulous, wonderful nurses who are a shining example to the rest of humanity, and they do not deserve to be pulled down by these slovenly slatterns, picking their spots and their noses, then picking up the phone, then sneezing all over.
You know who you are! You are getting away with it because every time someone dares to complain, an army of "oh no, they're wonderful" springs up from nowhere to defend everything and everyone.
The best you can do, you "defenders", is to listen and learn. You could have your turn to be "nursed" by a slatternly harridan, and you might not emerge from the hospital in that case.
Praise the good nurses to the skies - it's a calling, a dedication and should be rewarded as such. There is a great outcry of "Bring Back Matron" and this has been done, but no way is it on the old basis.
Don't let us rely on volunteers - though visitors do a lot of merciful work and help the lonely as well as visiting their own. However, why should this be necessary? Most of us do jobs where we do our work without relying on someone walking in off the street to help take up the burden!!
Some hospitals/some wards break all the "rules and guidelines". Don't bother complaining or even raising a query with PALS or similar -confidential, my eye! You will probably be afraid to enter the hospital if you complain in your own name.
It's nothing to see a nurse sneeze wetly into her hand and go from one post-op elderly patient to another. Maybe she thinks she is doing the country a service? Knocking off another pensioner, whoopee!!
There are fabulous, wonderful nurses who are a shining example to the rest of humanity, and they do not deserve to be pulled down by these slovenly slatterns, picking their spots and their noses, then picking up the phone, then sneezing all over.
You know who you are! You are getting away with it because every time someone dares to complain, an army of "oh no, they're wonderful" springs up from nowhere to defend everything and everyone.
The best you can do, you "defenders", is to listen and learn. You could have your turn to be "nursed" by a slatternly harridan, and you might not emerge from the hospital in that case.
Praise the good nurses to the skies - it's a calling, a dedication and should be rewarded as such. There is a great outcry of "Bring Back Matron" and this has been done, but no way is it on the old basis.
Don't let us rely on volunteers - though visitors do a lot of merciful work and help the lonely as well as visiting their own. However, why should this be necessary? Most of us do jobs where we do our work without relying on someone walking in off the street to help take up the burden!!
Posted by: Mrs G, Colchester on 12:26pm Thu 22 May 08
The hospital is in an appalling mess at the moment, I had a relative on the Stroke Unit which appeared to be reasonably clean, however the nurses have a very bad habit of taking a tea break all together in the tv room, they then close the door and place a warning triangle in front of the door stating that that the floor is wet, in the meantime the patients, mainly unable to move are using the buzzers to try and contact them and the ringing phone is ignored. I have seen patients ignored for 90 minutes untill my husband found a nurse and insisted the patient was seen to. The patients are seen as a nuisance and a consultant only does a ward round 3 times a week. I suggest that the chief executive of the trust makes a few flying unannounced visits to the ward, after the ward round has been done and before visiting time starts, he'll have a huge shock!
The hospital is in an appalling mess at the moment, I had a relative on the Stroke Unit which appeared to be reasonably clean, however the nurses have a very bad habit of taking a tea break all together in the tv room, they then close the door and place a warning triangle in front of the door stating that that the floor is wet, in the meantime the patients, mainly unable to move are using the buzzers to try and contact them and the ringing phone is ignored. I have seen patients ignored for 90 minutes untill my husband found a nurse and insisted the patient was seen to. The patients are seen as a nuisance and a consultant only does a ward round 3 times a week. I suggest that the chief executive of the trust makes a few flying unannounced visits to the ward, after the ward round has been done and before visiting time starts, he'll have a huge shock!
Posted by: Viv, Colchester on 12:40pm Thu 22 May 08
[bold]If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.[/bold]
The Chairman of the Colchester General Hospital Essex Three Rivers Trust is former Labour Colchester Borough Councillor Richard Bourne.
Follow this link to see his details on the Trust
[bold]http://www.essexrive
rs.nhs.uk/non_execut
ive.shtml[/bold]
He is now an Essex County Councillor.
Here is the link to take you to his Essex County Council details -
[bold]http://www.essexcc.g
ov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWe
bsite/dis/guc.jsp?ch
annelOid=14341&guide
Oid=14337&guideConte
ntOid=14355[/bold]
His Labour colleague Colchester Councillor Tim Young is a Non Executive director with NHS North East Essex Primary Care Trust.
Click here for the link
[bold]http://www.northeast
essexpct.nhs.uk/abou
t_us/board.asp?board
Id=25[bold]bold[/bold]
[bold]Vote Labour - If you want dirty hospitals[/bold] and the walk in centre moved from Middlebrough to Turner Rise.
[/bold]
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.
The Chairman of the Colchester General Hospital Essex Three Rivers Trust is former Labour Colchester Borough Councillor Richard Bourne.
Follow this link to see his details on the Trust
http://www.essexrive
rs.nhs.uk/non_execut
ive.shtml
He is now an Essex County Councillor.
Here is the link to take you to his Essex County Council details -
http://www.essexcc.g
ov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWe
bsite/dis/guc.jsp?ch
annelOid=14341&guide
Oid=14337&guideConte
ntOid=14355
His Labour colleague Colchester Councillor Tim Young is a Non Executive director with NHS North East Essex Primary Care Trust.
Click here for the link
http://www.northeast
essexpct.nhs.uk/abou
t_us/board.asp?board
Id=25
Vote Labour - If you want dirty hospitals and the walk in centre moved from Middlebrough to Turner Rise.
Posted by: David Cameron, Colchester on 3:18pm Thu 22 May 08
[quote][bold]Viv[/bold] wrote:
<b> [bold]If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.[/bold]
You get dirty hospitals and patients dying because of MRSA.
If you vote Labour you end up with a Britain that is going down the plughole.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve. </b>[/quote] Don't worry, when we get into power we will sort the problem out. We will do exactly the same as last time and close as many hospitals as possible. Filth will be a thing of the past, consigned to the dustbin of history. Trust me, I'm a toff.
Viv wrote:
<b> If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.
You get dirty hospitals and patients dying because of MRSA.
If you vote Labour you end up with a Britain that is going down the plughole.
If you vote Labour you get what you deserve. </b>
Don't worry, when we get into power we will sort the problem out. We will do exactly the same as last time and close as many hospitals as possible. Filth will be a thing of the past, consigned to the dustbin of history. Trust me, I'm a toff.
Posted by: Geoff, Colchester on 3:55pm Thu 22 May 08
It wasnt Labour that decided to privatise the cleaning services and pay staff peanuts.
It wasnt Labour that decided to privatise the cleaning services and pay staff peanuts.
Posted by: Greg, Colchester on 4:34pm Thu 22 May 08
Yes Geoff but Labour have had 11 long years to change it and they didn't.
Perhaps the line should be:
[bold]If you vote Labour-Tories-LibDem
s you get what you deserve.[/bold]
Yes Geoff but Labour have had 11 long years to change it and they didn't.
Perhaps the line should be:
If you vote Labour-Tories-LibDem
s you get what you deserve. Posted by: Helen, Clacton on 4:48pm Thu 22 May 08
I recently had 2 periods of stay on Stanway ward within the Constable Wing of Colchester General Hospital and could not fault anything at all.
All members of staff - from nurses and doctors to the catering staff - were all very aware of the need for cleanliness and the need for hand washing and alcohol gel application.
I recently had 2 periods of stay on Stanway ward within the Constable Wing of Colchester General Hospital and could not fault anything at all.
All members of staff - from nurses and doctors to the catering staff - were all very aware of the need for cleanliness and the need for hand washing and alcohol gel application.
Posted by: Fed Up, N E Essex on 10:53pm Thu 22 May 08
Now Murphy’s got his Foundation Status it will all go down the tubes so register complaints about everything and he will end up loosing it. Still he’ll get a golden handshake of several millions and MSRA will still rule.
Now Murphy’s got his Foundation Status it will all go down the tubes so register complaints about everything and he will end up loosing it. Still he’ll get a golden handshake of several millions and MSRA will still rule.
Posted by: F, colchester on 11:20pm Thu 22 May 08
Now that Matrons have been re-instated, why are they not running their wards in the 'old fashioned' way and being seen on the wards at regular intervals and being vigilant with their staff and making sure that their wards are clean and staff are following correct procedures. Especially on wards for the elderly where care/cleanliness must surely be of equal importance as other wards.
Now that Matrons have been re-instated, why are they not running their wards in the 'old fashioned' way and being seen on the wards at regular intervals and being vigilant with their staff and making sure that their wards are clean and staff are following correct procedures. Especially on wards for the elderly where care/cleanliness must surely be of equal importance as other wards.
Posted by: bob, Harwich on 11:27pm Thu 22 May 08
After a long stay in Colchester hospital I feel I could answer every point and comment made I stayed on one ward with 1 nurse looking after 2 wards at night. patients were in need of bed pans but the nurse could not treat and attend to their needs, by the morning many accidents had occured leaving the morning staff having to change and clean up the patients who are then to embarrest to complain.To days policies appear to support workers who show up and turn a blind eye. In my opinion those nurses and staff who are dedicated to their jobs and who seek better standards are edged out as trouble makers.
As for PALS I agree with Mrs G waste of time they are there to protect the hospital not the patients i.e. complaint noted. Actioned taken filed in............... the recycling bin.
Finnally I did phone the night desk to report the above yet the person I spoke to did not feel it was a story of interest.
After a long stay in Colchester hospital I feel I could answer every point and comment made I stayed on one ward with 1 nurse looking after 2 wards at night. patients were in need of bed pans but the nurse could not treat and attend to their needs, by the morning many accidents had occured leaving the morning staff having to change and clean up the patients who are then to embarrest to complain.To days policies appear to support workers who show up and turn a blind eye. In my opinion those nurses and staff who are dedicated to their jobs and who seek better standards are edged out as trouble makers.
As for PALS I agree with Mrs G waste of time they are there to protect the hospital not the patients i.e. complaint noted. Actioned taken filed in............... the recycling bin.
Finnally I did phone the night desk to report the above yet the person I spoke to did not feel it was a story of interest.
Posted by: wayne chivers, colchester on 9:23pm Wed 28 May 08
[quote][bold]Mrs G[/bold] wrote:
The hospital is in an appalling mess at the moment, I had a relative on the Stroke Unit which appeared to be reasonably clean, however the nurses have a very bad habit of taking a tea break all together in the tv room, they then close the door and place a warning triangle in front of the door stating that that the floor is wet, in the meantime the patients, mainly unable to move are using the buzzers to try and contact them and the ringing phone is ignored. I have seen patients ignored for 90 minutes untill my husband found a nurse and insisted the patient was seen to. The patients are seen as a nuisance and a consultant only does a ward round 3 times a week. I suggest that the chief executive of the trust makes a few flying unannounced visits to the ward, after the ward round has been done and before visiting time starts, he\'ll have a huge shock![/quote] I am a long stay patient at the Stroke Unit. The article by Mrs G was totally misinformed and untrue. For instance I felt guilty calling for a nurse in a busy ward. She arrived 3 minutes later, a long time off the 90 minutes suggested. This is a superb ward. The patients are valued and respected by all staff. May I suggest Mrs G contact me, Wayne Chivers, room 1, and she maybe be able to undo the harm her misconceptions have already done.
All the Staff are doing a great job. Well done, keep it up!
Wayne Chivers
Mrs G wrote:
The hospital is in an appalling mess at the moment, I had a relative on the Stroke Unit which appeared to be reasonably clean, however the nurses have a very bad habit of taking a tea break all together in the tv room, they then close the door and place a warning triangle in front of the door stating that that the floor is wet, in the meantime the patients, mainly unable to move are using the buzzers to try and contact them and the ringing phone is ignored. I have seen patients ignored for 90 minutes untill my husband found a nurse and insisted the patient was seen to. The patients are seen as a nuisance and a consultant only does a ward round 3 times a week. I suggest that the chief executive of the trust makes a few flying unannounced visits to the ward, after the ward round has been done and before visiting time starts, he\'ll have a huge shock!
I am a long stay patient at the Stroke Unit. The article by Mrs G was totally misinformed and untrue. For instance I felt guilty calling for a nurse in a busy ward. She arrived 3 minutes later, a long time off the 90 minutes suggested. This is a superb ward. The patients are valued and respected by all staff. May I suggest Mrs G contact me, Wayne Chivers, room 1, and she maybe be able to undo the harm her misconceptions have already done.
All the Staff are doing a great job. Well done, keep it up!
Wayne Chivers
Posted by: dennis, Colchester on 8:55pm Fri 30 May 08
Thanks for the supportive comments about our hospital.
Thanks for the supportive comments about our hospital.
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