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Report could threaten Foundation plans

7:20am Thursday 15th May 2008

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A DAMNING report on the state of a local hospital could scupper its bid to become a Foundation Trust.

Ealing Hospital, in Uxbridge Road, came bottom in the report, which was published by the Healthcare Commission yesterday.

In the survey, patients rated the hospital as the second worst for cleanliness of wards out of the 165 English hospital trusts.

Patients also gave low ratings for the standard of information provided by doctors and nurses before operations and when people are discharged, the use of mixed-sex wards, helping people who cannot feed themselves and security.

The survey was carried out last August by the commission, an independent body which checks standards of care in NHS hospitals.

Around 76,000 patients across England took part.

Adewale Kadiri, the commission's area manager for central London, said: "I don't think these figures will have been a surprise to the trust as they were not that good last year either.

"These issues can have a number of different effects on patients, and the most startling one is the cleanliness of wards, as it opens people up to all sorts of infection issues as we have seen with other trusts.

"What we are saying to them is they have really had enough time see which areas your patients are unhappy with, and now you have to make improvements and quickly."

Ealing Hospital NHS Trust is currently bidding to become a Foundation Hospital, which would mean there would be less regulation on the managers from the government, and it would face less frequent inspections.

Mr Kadiri said: "A body called Monitor makes the decision whether to grant Foundation status, but I would be surprised if they did not take these findings into account when they make their decision.

"One of the things they will be looking at is the quality of leadership, and I don't believe it's possible for an organisation to be well lead and have all these problems."

Michael Woodhouse, who has been a patient representative for the hospital since 2002, said: "Some of these areas are familiar to me, because they are the sort of things that recur as areas of major improvement for patients.

"I do not think this will harm the bid to become a Foundation Hospital as we are nine months on from when the survey took place and there have been improvements."

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Julie Spencer, London, Hanwell says...
7:50pm Thu 15 May 08

jus like to say Ealing hospital is a disgrace because i went into ealing hospital on the 07/05/08 because i collapsed coming home from work and all i got from the doctors and nurses is rudness.They tryed telling me that im feeling better so on the 9/05/08 they discharged me and i told them that i really dont feel well but they still discharged me and later that day i went back into ealing hospital.when i got there the doctor came to have a look at me and she said "tell me if this hurts" (she punched me in the back)i screamed out yes it do. so she said she will keep in so they gave me pain killers and put me on the 9th ward. On the 9th ward it was really hot olthough im in pain i went down stairs to get some fresh air beacuse i was sweating so much i had to change my clothes so many times in a day. The doctor came to c me on the 13/05/08 and said "i need to discharge you because i keep going down stairs" i said to her "sorry but im really hot where im sweating so much im changing my clothes and plus i need to streach my legs i cant stay in bed 24/7 but when im going down stairs im still in pain." anyway she still told me that she is discharging me anyway and was really rude about it.I got discharged on the 13/05/08 but the thing is dat im still feeling really ill and in a lot of pain and i think that i might be going back into hospital again but im not being funny but im not going to go to ealing hospital if i do need to go back. thank you for taking the time to read this and i really do hope someone will sort out ealing hopital very quickly. p.s i found out i have got kidney infection.

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joe booth, Greenford says...
8:52pm Thu 15 May 08

I haven't actually been to the hospital for a long time. Last time I went it was ok. Maybe it's changed now

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Anonymous Person, London says...
8:57am Fri 16 May 08

Often i have had to escort psychiatric patients to Ealing Hospital for physical health problems. The staff can be extremely rude and lazy, though i have found a few staff whom are helpful and caring. The standards of cleanliness are poor to say the least. I remember seeing a large blood spill under a patients bed, it was still there after 2 days. Look around and you will see dust everywhere, and MRSA likes to live in dust.
I thought a hospital should smell like a hospital? Ealing Hospital needs to clean up it's act literally.

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Anonymous, Ealing says...
1:15pm Fri 16 May 08

I blmae the management of the estates department in ealing. It is common knowledge that they ignore problems untill they have an outbreak of legionella, or rush around like headless chickens when the PEAT inspectors are due. Yes, poor leadership I say, cut out the deadwood, only then will things improve.

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Tracy, Lincs says...
1:18pm Fri 16 May 08

My uncle was treated for cancer at Ealing, and was supposed to be in sterile conditions. But everytime he had to use the toilet he had to clean it first. Another friend who was in there for heart problems was given the wrong tablets by a 'nurse' who despite him insisting that they were wrong kept offereing them to him to take. This 'nurse' just about understood english.

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Stella, Ealing says...
4:36pm Fri 16 May 08

From my experience, Ealing Hospital richly deserves to be bottom of the league. It is filthy, has more than it's fair share of bullying and lazy staff - not all are I will say, though it must be so demoralising for those staff who are professional. It's a bloody disgrace.

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Reverend Richard, Ealing says...
8:26pm Fri 16 May 08

I hear that Councillor Nigel Sumner (Ealing Conservative Council Cabinet Member Dealing with Health) is going to be offering dung poultices and herbal remedies from his allotment in South Ealing for those that cannot get seen at Ealing Hospital, he will be offering Counselling in the Rose and Crown Pub (next to the allotments) over a pint for those waiting for more than six months for Counselling at Ealing Hospital, and will be handimg out real fur (rat-skin from the Council's pest control porgramme) slippers at ST Matthews Church after the 10:30 am Sunday Service for disadvantaged children who have to rely on Ealing Social Services...
Revererand Richard.

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Reverend Richard, Ealing says...
8:39pm Fri 16 May 08

I meant to say ex-Cabinet Member Nigel Sumner, apologies...
Revereverend Richard

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maggie, Ealing says...
11:38am Sun 18 May 08

Lets face it, Ealing Hospital is a disaster... it is inaccessible by car (the car parks are expensive and metered by the nanosecond), it is depressing, it is appallingly run, and looks like a recycling plant. Why don't GPs simply refer their patients elsewhere; I cannot believe that a caring GP would send a patient to Ealing Hospital in good conscience. The only reason the Trust can whitewash Ealing Hospital's existence is that the Mental Health facilities provided by the NHS Trust are the one area where the patients have NO CHOICE. This is a specialism of Ealing Hospital meaning that the Ealing psychiatric social workers DUMP everyone there because they have no choice; even the GPs have no choice in this matter: if patients had choice in the area of Mental Health Services then Ealing Hospital would simply die a natural death: as long as people are FORCED to go there for services by NHS Trust politics it will keep on going! Why not build a new hospital where it would be of some use to EALING residents: there are no hospital facilities near Ealing (W5, etc.). Why not build a nice new hospital in the Ealing Council Car Park: a much better idea than 700 homes; health services close to the consumers (and to tube and train facilities). Has anyone noticed how none of Ealing's hospitals are actually within patient walking distance (not healthy teenager walking distance)of a tube station or rail station?
Blow up Ealing Hospital and save lives today...
Maggie.

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maggie, Ranelagh Road says...
11:51am Sun 18 May 08

Actually. Why not build a new hospital (because lets face it Ealing Hospital is beyond help) on the derelict wasteland (known as the Ascott Allotments -- land begging for a good social use) behind my house on Ranelagh Road within wheelchair distance of South Ealing Tube Station... I would prefer a nice hospital behind my house to the third world shanty town that there is there at the moment... Now there's a thought!
Maggie.

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N Kalia, Hounslow says...
7:24pm Sun 18 May 08

My friends father was sent home with cancer that no doctors picked up at the hospital and died. She was told to contact the newspapers by PALS in the hospital because they said that would be the only way to get any problems solved.The staff are all rude and the patients in the elderly wards 5 south and north are treated with contempt by the nurses,and not fed and left in soiled beds.
Its about time the the governmet took control and sacks all the managers, and gets some one in who can get results.

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susan, ealing says...
7:35pm Sun 18 May 08

My sister julie (1st post) is right in what she says along with many other posts, Ealing Hospital is horrible and some of the staff are soooo rude its unreal. I'd rather travel to another hospital then go there. the only time I'd ever go back is if I was out of it and had no choice in the matter. Ealing hospital should be closed down, staff replaced in a new built hospital for the people of ealing. (hope your feeling better soon julie xx)

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daniel, ealing says...
7:53pm Sun 18 May 08

Agree with other comments. Ealing Hospital staff are rude!and its DIRTY! close the hospital down!

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sarah, Hanwell says...
8:02pm Sun 18 May 08

Close Ealing Hospital down its a health risk to all those who walk through the doors!! and the staff are rude!!

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julie, hanwell says...
8:04pm Sun 18 May 08

ealing hospital is a discrace my sister was in there and she was on 1st floor when she was there she see 2 people die infront of her and the docters and nurses didnt do anythink they are rude and cocky it need burnin and bield something else there

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Jane, west ealing says...
8:06pm Sun 18 May 08

No amount of cash put into that place would help it in anyway, shape or form. it needs to be closed down ASAP and a new one put there! (agree staff are very rude)

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julie, hanwell says...
8:15pm Sun 18 May 08

they shouldnt put another one there they should put houses or flats something like that not another hospital

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susan, ealing says...
8:21pm Sun 18 May 08

Remember thankfully we do have other hospitals, not so good if you cant travel but there is west middlesex, hillingdon, du cane road, chelsea & westminster, north wick park and central middx, not saying that these are great hospitals but lets face it they cant be worse then EALING!!!!!

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Trevor Sanderson, West Ealing says...
9:47pm Sun 18 May 08

I was admitted to Ealing Hospital in October 2007 for pneumonia.That having been treated, I subsequently incurred 2 MRSA infections - another pneumonia and an unidentified chest infection. Overall, I was in hospital for nearly 10 weeks, feeling very cold for most of the time. On one occasion, my request for another blanket was met with ''you will have to make do with one for now''. A nurse said to me - ''you should get out of here as soon as possible before you get another infection''. After 10 weeks in bed, my leg muscles felt like jelly. I could not stand up.Things became better with time but on discharge, the promised home physiotherapy did not materialise - it had been recorded as being needed for respitory purposes rather than helping me to walk again. The error and delay meant that I had to cope on my own - and living in a first floor maisonette made that very hard.
Still, having been near death (at one point they could not get enough oxygen into me), I emerged OK - so I ought to be grateful. Hospitals are dangerous places, almost by definition - and who knows what visitors carry by way of disease and risk of infection.

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Trevor Sanderson, West Ealing says...
10:05pm Sun 18 May 08

Having just recorded my experience regarding admission for pneumonia, I wish to also record a good experience with the Moorfields Eye Hospital outreach programme. I had a cataract in my right eye causing fuzziness and short sight, which was not correctable with prescription
glasses. Despite being awake during the operation all went well. I was also offered a lens replacement for my other eye. This went well also. I can now see properly and drive myself from place to place in order to pursue leisure activities - mostly related to singing - Acacapella Community Choir,London Bulgarian Choir, Maspindzeli - a Caucusus Georgian Choir, Classical Questors Choir, Southbank Voicelab, Sacred Harp American hymns from the 1700's and early 1800's etc.

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kiran, southall says...
10:55pm Sun 18 May 08

IF I HAD A CHOICE TO GIVE BIRTH OUT SIDE MY FOOTPATH OR EALING HOSITAL I WOULD SPIT AT EALING HOSITHAL AND GIVE MY BIRTH IN PUBLIC, EALING HOSPITAL IS GETTING WORSE DAY BY DAY MINUTE BY SECOND I AM SOO **** **** OF WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE I JUST REACON EALING HOSPITAL SHOULD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY IT GIVES ME SO MANY MEMORIES AS MY DAD PASSED AWAY RECENTLY BECAUSE OF THESE DCTORS AND NURCES SITTING ON THERE ASSESS AND SHOUTING AT THE POOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING THERE...I APOLIGISE FOR MY LANGUAGE BUT I THINK THE GOVERMENT SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HOSPITAL BECAUSE IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND ITS OUT OFF ORDER HOW I WAS BORN AT THE HOSPITAL AND MY DAD PASSES AWAY COZ OFF THESE PEOPLE DAT WORK THERE EVERYONE IS SUFFERING FOR HELP HELP HELP!!!!!!!!

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Ealing Hospital: working to address criticisms. Ealing Hospital was rated bottom for overall care in the patient survey

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