Royal Free Hospital

I went to the A&E department at around 11pm on a Saturday night suffering from crippling stomach pain and a highly swollen abdomen. I was seen to quickly by the receptionist and told to take a seat. I settled down with my book, fully expecting a long wait, but was called in to see the nurse within around 40 minutes. Once the nurse had assessed me, she took me straight through to the main ward and put me into a cubicle to wait for a doctor. Again, I anticipated a long wait, but the doctor came to the room within 5 minutes, and proceeded to give me a full examination. He then had a nurse come in and draw some blood for tests, and do some other tests on me (blood pressure, ECG, scans etc) I was then taken off for some X Rays and brought back to my room. Once I was back, the doctor came back and gave me a full explanation of why they had done all the tests, what they had determined and what the course of action was going to be. I was allowed to go home with specific instructions and medication, and felt a lot better than I had when entering A&E about 4 hours earlier.
All together, everyone I encountered in A&E was fully professional and efficient, but also warm and friendly, making what was a slightly scary situation much more bearable. I'd like to send out my sincere thanks to my nurses, the radiographer and mostly to the doctor, for helping me so much and being so kind and friendly. This is why I am a strong supporter of the NHS, as their staff do a great job on a service which is free for all (I know that taxes do pay for it, but it is essentially free as you'd have to pay tax even if it didn't exist!) and sometimes in the face of adversity.
Thanks to all the staff at the Royal Free on Saturday 18th May night shift!

Walked in to the x ray dept and signed in to receive a number. Number called and went to the reception desk. Unfortunately my GP had forgotten to sign my form but the receptionist took control faxed through to my GP for another signed form. This took about 30 mins but I was kept informed throughout that time.The automated system worked very well BUT the only problem was when the nusing assistant came to call out your name to take you to the correct xray area. They stood at the entrance and whispered out your name.Why couldn't the use a tannoy system?With the automated system calling out information and the general noise from the patients and reception desk it was very difficult to hear ones name.

I visited A and E after having been seen by a paramedic and the treatment I received could not have been better. I was treated with respect, speed and excellent professionalism by all the staff. The doctor was extremely thorough and couldn't have done more to help me. I would like to commend the department for what they did for me.

My boyfriend was at University when he started to feel very unwell. He had really strong pain in his stomach and was vomiting all the time. Someone called an ambulance and he was taken to this hospital. He was lying on the floor in A&E with plastic bag. He was in pain and was vomiting. He asked 2 doctors for help but there was no reaction.
After one hour a nurse took him and put him on a bed. She asked a lot of questions about alcohol and drugs and left. He doesnt take any drugs and he doesnt drink alcohol. After another hour doctor came and asked the same questions. My boyfirend was still in terrible pain and was vomiting all the time.... After another 40minutes they did blood tests and gave him paracetamol.
After next hour they said that blood tests are fine, they gave him co-codamol and sent him home. He said that he cant walk on his own and that he lives on the other side of London and that his parents will be there in another 40minutes. And what nurse did? She said that he has to leave now and that he can take a cab...
Is that a joke?
We took him from the station. He werent able to walk and talk and was vomiting.
It happened on Wednesday. On thursday he had jus a slice of bread for dinner and on friday morning I took him back to hospital. Now he is in Northwick Park Hospital and its another joke...

I had chest pain and walked into this hospital, I liked the service and people working there. I thought to write an review so it can help other people to make decision, Yeah I also feel sorry for others who did not have good experience. It is good to write if you had bad experience to make hospital better.

But in my case, I had good replies from reception, from nurses and doctors and staff. Doctors are also nice and knows their work. I also did not have to wait for long, they took me in within few minutes.

On the 7th of May, 2013, around 10:30 pm I took my brother to the A&E as he was experiencing a terrible headache (along with swelling near his temples) and shivering. It took us 20 mins just to register his details on the system (even though there was only 1 person standing in front of us) and when we reached the reception, the receptionist didn't even look at us for 2 mins and was busy complaining to her colleague about how she was tired of sitting down etc. In the meantime, there was a drunk guy walking around the room, throwing notepads here and there and banging on the tables. There were 2 security guards present at that time who were just standing there and looking. They didn't do anything about it until a patient in the room finally said " why don't you do something about it? There are children in the room".

The receptionist took our details and asked us to take a seat. It then took about an hour for the nurse to call out my brother's name for an assessment. The nurse spent about 2 mins assessing him and he was told that it would take 2 hours before he could see a doctor. Bearing in mind that it was already 11:40 pm by that time, it seemed absolutely ridiculous that she was expecting us to stay till 1:40 am just to be able to see the doctor. That to me is certainly not an 'Emergency' treatment. As my brother really needed to lie down, we had no option but to hire a cab and make our way home without being seen by a doctor. Before leaving, I went up to the receptionist again and asked her if there was a shop around where we could get some paracetamol. She very rudely looked back and said 'no'. I would have expected a bit more cooperation from her considering the long hours we, and all the other patients were having to wait. It turned out that there was a corner shop just 20 steps away from the hospital where we managed to get some Paracetamol.

To summarise, our visit to the A&E was an absolute waste of time, money and energy and even though this is my nearest hospital, I have been completely put off by my experience. I would rather travel a few more miles and go to a better hospital than waste my energy coming back here again.

On 7/5/13 I visited the Royal Free at lunchtime. I entered by walking through the small park next to the site. There were a number of people sitting on the grass wearing what appeared to be medical clothing, blue, green and white uniforms. I would have thought that this would not be allowed as the grass would be contaminated by dogs and other animals. Also, despite several signs banning smoking there were a large number of cigarette butts on the ground and at least two people smoking. I think that on the next warm lunchtime someone in authority should visit this park and witness what is happening.

I am a patient and arrived at the hospital early for an sppointment. I went down to the canteen for a coffee and breakfast and was greeted by an assistant with a big cheerful smile and a warm welcome . It proves to me the staff are really motivated from top to bottom.
I was feeling sad as my friend had died last night, but this girls friendly , warm greeting made me feel uplifted. I am used to excellent service from my clinical team but this seemed so genuine. Keep up the good work all of you

I would like to thank the staff in the Dermatology clinic, from reception onwards, for their kind, efficient, patient and altogether excellent way they dealt with me today.. Almost at the end of their tiring working day too. I came away feeling positive - which does not often happen after hospital appointments, due to long waits and general stress. Much appreciated.

My father (81) was admitted last Sunday and I have visited him every day since. Virtually every time I visit I have been witness to a truly shocking level of care, directed at both my father and other patients in the ward. I will be making a formal complaint and detailing the growing list of indignities I have seen this past week from a number of different nurses but wanted to post something here now as I see that people are advised to set the ball in motion as soon as possible.

My only fear is that having already been vocal with a number of nurses to voice my concerns, my dad, who is still under their 'care' will be mistreated.

Last night he was given no pain medication after 8.30pm and when he called to ask for some he was told that his meds were under review. In the middle of the night? No explanation beyond this review was given. Why would his meds be under review at 3 am? Especially when he had spoken to a doctor during the day and was following a pattern prescribed by his own GP for arthritis, not the condition he has been admitted for?

This followed an altercation with a health care assistant that evening who had refused to help a patient who had soiled himself and was in a deal of distress because it was the end of his shift. This same assistant also refused to call another nurse. He did however have time to tell me, for about 10 minutes, that it was the end of his shift and the older gentleman soiling himself and having trouble breathing because he was upset was not an emergency. At this point, my husband was running around the ward trying to find someone who would be willing to help. The gentleman's alarm had been buzzing for about 15 minutes by this point but nobody had come to see him we were told because shifts were switching over.So, if someone was unfortunate to have, say, a heart attack at shift change, they would just be left? Really?

When we left at about 8.30pm the assistant was still there making notes in patients' charts, my dad's amongst them. He then got into our lift and told me that I had been rude to him!

My dad was given his pain meds at 8.30pm and these lasted until 3.00 am when he woke and called for some more. He takes these every 6 hours or so. At 3.30am a nurse told him his meds were under review and he couldn't have any. At 5.30am and in a good deal of pain at this point, he was given 2 paracetamol which did nothing. At 9am, another nurse told him that his meds were not under review and gave him his usual tablets. By 10am the pain relief was finally kicking in. What's gone on here? How was this allowed to happen?

Are medications often reviewed and withdrawn from patients in the middle of the night? Is this standard practice? I look forward to getting this looked into and receiving some answers.