Ipswich Hospital (Part of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)
Feedback Rating
Based on 1760 reviews
Reviews (1760)
My wife has had good care
Cancer services
August 5, 2021
My wife has been undergoing cancer treatment and the care has been very good. I've not been able to go in when she has had her treatment but it has all worked well at the hospital.
Administration process is slow
Cardiology
August 5, 2021
After staying in hospital and receiving treatment for a heart condition I was told I needed medication and a letter would be sent to my GP practice so I could get it. I received my letter but it's now two weeks later and the GP practice haven't had theirs. I've had to take my letter in to the surgery so they can photocopy it and then issue my medication. It's just disappointing that this hasn't happened and it's delayed me starting my medication.
Been waiting a long time for treatment
unknown
August 5, 2021
I've been waiting since the pandemic started for an injection I get regularly. There has been no real explanation about why it couldn't be done over the last year . I finally have an appointment booked for September and have also been told I could have an operation too but I'm now caring for my husband which makes it much more difficult. My husband has had a better experience with his care and treatment taking place throughout the year. For him getting referred also went well and things were acted upon quickly.
Great experience having my baby
Maternity
August 5, 2021
I really can't fault the care and support provided by midwives during my pregnancy and birth of my daughter. As there was not a real need for the room i was in to have my baby we were allowed to stay for four hours after the birth so that my husband could stay for the extra time before we were moved to the ward. This extra time together was really lovely and greatly appreciated.
Lack of compassion and communication
Cancer services
July 30, 2021
My cancer care by the hospital hasn't been the greatest over the last year. There's been a clear lack of communication with decisions being made without discussion. My treatment was stopped with no discussion, and gradually the time between consultations was increased with out any explanation. I've just been told I'm palliative but the way I was told lacked compassion and care, we really weren't expecting it. Its just been disappointing how care has been given with explanations lacking it has left us unclear what the situation is for me.
Excellent care. Friendly, caring staff.
Capel ward
July 27, 2021
I was admitted via Brantham ward on to Capel ward where I stayed for 8 days. It was a frightening time, but the staff were incredibly kind, caring and decisive. Everything was explained carefully to me and I was very well looked after. It was extremely clean and I cannot fault at all the ward staff.
Amazing, professional, compassionate, kind.
Maternity
July 27, 2021
We found out at 20week scab our son potentially had down syndrome, from that moment on ipswich hospital staff were kind, considerate, positive and compassionate.
Deban ward brilliant, but Orwell was terrible
Maternity
July 27, 2021
I was very poorly and deban ward were fantastic with me and my baby. Once I was just about well enough I was transferred to Orwell. I had to wait in the corridor, while still poorly as they had no room for me. Once the room was avaliable, the woman giving out food told me I had 5 minutes to eat my dinner (even though she had just handed it to me) as she wanted to go home. In the end as I couldn't eat that fast while tending to my baby, I got my husband to get a subway for me.
The breast feeding specialists were terrible too. I had to watch as a lady was waterboarding my baby with a syringe of milk! In the end I got a bottle (night shift helped) and my baby started feeding.
Another issue with Orwell was the cluelessness of staff (clearly no handover). I had to be on oxygen for a week after birth and different staff would keep turning it off then on again. One changed from normal oxygen to a full respirator style thing which made me feel so ill... then another came in and said what are you doing and took me off that!
Day staff in Orwell were rude, didn't seem to have any ounce of care. One even said to me that I had to go to a therapist and should complain about my treatment in there! I didnt need a therapist, I was just poorly after birth due to pre eclampsia, fluid on my lungs and low oxygen levels.
One other issue was the trainee doctors. One who told my husband that he hates dealing with babies and cant wait to leave the placement. This junior doctor had to do a heel pick on my baby and made her bleed everywhere! I refused treatment from them after this incidence!
The maternity unit needs to retrain all staff, including catering, on how to care for patients. It needs to communicate better with each ward. As I said, Deban looked after me and my baby brilliantly, but Orwell was terrible in the daytime. The staff kept blaming it on being short staffed, but that does not explain the rudeness. Removing me from oxygen could have killed me!
The breast feeding specialists were terrible too. I had to watch as a lady was waterboarding my baby with a syringe of milk! In the end I got a bottle (night shift helped) and my baby started feeding.
Another issue with Orwell was the cluelessness of staff (clearly no handover). I had to be on oxygen for a week after birth and different staff would keep turning it off then on again. One changed from normal oxygen to a full respirator style thing which made me feel so ill... then another came in and said what are you doing and took me off that!
Day staff in Orwell were rude, didn't seem to have any ounce of care. One even said to me that I had to go to a therapist and should complain about my treatment in there! I didnt need a therapist, I was just poorly after birth due to pre eclampsia, fluid on my lungs and low oxygen levels.
One other issue was the trainee doctors. One who told my husband that he hates dealing with babies and cant wait to leave the placement. This junior doctor had to do a heel pick on my baby and made her bleed everywhere! I refused treatment from them after this incidence!
The maternity unit needs to retrain all staff, including catering, on how to care for patients. It needs to communicate better with each ward. As I said, Deban looked after me and my baby brilliantly, but Orwell was terrible in the daytime. The staff kept blaming it on being short staffed, but that does not explain the rudeness. Removing me from oxygen could have killed me!
A really positive induction experience
Maternity
July 27, 2021
When I was told that I needed to be induced at 38 weeks I was dreading it, but from the moment I arrived for my induction the staff were really kind and caring, and the overall experience was a really positive one.
Communication was great throughout the process, I always knew what was happening and why and what the next steps would be, etc. The only complaint I would have was that after my baby was born, I was advised to stay until the morning so I could have all the checks done before going home, but was reassured this would all be done in the morning. However in reality, it took the whole day to get everything done and have all the paperwork completed so I didn't leave until late afternoon. I spent most of the day feeling unsure of what I was waiting for or what time I might be able to go home. With COVID restrictions, this of course meant that my partner couldn't come back to the hospital, so I was keen to get home more so for this reason than any other.
I also wish I had asked for more breastfeeding support. Some was given, which was great, but once we got home I continued to have difficulty getting my baby to latch and ultimately ended up back up the hospital three days later to find out that my baby was tongue tied. I wish this had been checked before we left the hospital, as it made the first few days very distressing for both me and baby. However, once the tongue tie was diagnosed, I cannot fault the care and support I received from the feeding team. How available they were to see us at short notice and how quickly they were able to fit us in for the procedure to have the tie released.
Communication was great throughout the process, I always knew what was happening and why and what the next steps would be, etc. The only complaint I would have was that after my baby was born, I was advised to stay until the morning so I could have all the checks done before going home, but was reassured this would all be done in the morning. However in reality, it took the whole day to get everything done and have all the paperwork completed so I didn't leave until late afternoon. I spent most of the day feeling unsure of what I was waiting for or what time I might be able to go home. With COVID restrictions, this of course meant that my partner couldn't come back to the hospital, so I was keen to get home more so for this reason than any other.
I also wish I had asked for more breastfeeding support. Some was given, which was great, but once we got home I continued to have difficulty getting my baby to latch and ultimately ended up back up the hospital three days later to find out that my baby was tongue tied. I wish this had been checked before we left the hospital, as it made the first few days very distressing for both me and baby. However, once the tongue tie was diagnosed, I cannot fault the care and support I received from the feeding team. How available they were to see us at short notice and how quickly they were able to fit us in for the procedure to have the tie released.
Excellent care from start to finish
Maternity
July 26, 2021
I could not have wished for better care throughout my pregnancy from all of the maternity team based both in the community and at Ipswich Hospital. I was induced and from start to finish i felt well cared for and completely safe. The staff was so kind, respectful and informative. They ensured i understood what was going on at each stage and why. The midwives were so lovely. The wards were immaculately clean. I do not have any negative comments to share.
