West Suffolk Hospital
Feedback Rating
Based on 1311 reviews
Reviews (1311)
On a waiting list
Orthopaedics
June 12, 2023
I need an operation on my hand but after seeing the consultant I've been put on the waiting list but have just been told we'll be in touch so don't even have a rough idea of when to expect it to actually take place.
Always good but appointments reduced.
Eye clinic
May 31, 2023
A local optician referred me to the clinic. It is always good but appointments are difficult to book as the consultant's days have been reduced.
No privacy at A&E
Accident and emergency services
May 25, 2023
We had reason to attend A&E on a Tuesday at 6pm. This is the 1st time in years that we have used A&E. Firstly, I must say the actual service was fine, but I was astonished at how, on entering, everyone has to give over all their personal and medical details without any regard for privacy, Whilst waiting we heard names, addresses, email address and phone numbers being given. We were also subject to very personal medical problems and symptoms. One lady had to discuss her menstrual problems with everyone able to hear, another lady came in, gave all her details (which everyone could hear) she clearly said she lived alone. They then admitted her for an appendectomy and told her she might be in hospital a few days. Anyone could have noted her address knowing it would be unattended, let alone that we had heard her full name, address, date of birth, phone number etc which could be used for identify theft. The staff did not seem to have any regard for privacy. I think this needs to be addressed. The medical care we received was excellent and relatively quick; I leave my star rating regarding registration process at A&E .
operation for skin cancer, all excellent
Plastic Surgery
April 12, 2023
From the start to being signed off great to have such a good system in place
In ENT for discussion about op re implant
Ear Nose and Throat
April 1, 2023
This is my third visit to ENT and I am here to discuss an operation for an implant in my nose. The staff are really good and I have not had to wait too long.
Appointment in Cardiac Department
Cardiology
April 1, 2023
My experience has been fantastic. I was admitted to A&E in January 2023 with a heart attack and again 3 weeks later. Since then I have been in a virtual ward. This means I can be in my home and everything is monitored by the hospital through the computer monitoring system attached to me. I am here now to see what happens next. I'm travelling by ambulance transport which was very good., However it was a disaster 3 weeks ago when I was late for my appointment and then had to wait to go home following my appointment for 3 hours and got home at 8.30pm. The ambulance team had gone to the cardiac ward and I was waiting at the main entrance. However, the treatment has been brilliant and I can't fault it.
Left knee replacement.
Orthopaedics
March 30, 2023
I had a partial left knee replacement last September. All went well with the operation and I was allowed out of the hospital after 36 hours.
I carried out all of the physio tasks given to me in several leaflets, following the instructions to the letter. I carried out the physio as advised in the leaflets for several days after returning home. I returned to the hospital for a reason not associated with the knee operation a week later and went to the physio dept to return some equipment that used to be used by my wife. I spoke to the chief physio person and asked him about his view that I was unable to bend my knee hardly at all. (I did appreciate that the operation was quite recent). He recommended that I use a small pedal machine several times a day to exercise the knee. I purchased such a machine and began to use it 3 times a day for 30 revolutions. It did little or no good and was uncomfortable/mildly painful when used. I gave it up after a week.
I attended a clinic at Thetford Healthy Living Center some time later and explained to him that I was unable to bend my knee more than 90 degrees and also told him about the machine recommend by the physio dept. He told me not to use the machine at all and further he would be writing to the physio dept (I am not sure exactly what he wrote) but I assume it was to tell them not to recommend this machine as physio treatment for my type of knee replacement.
On a very recent visit to the clinic, he saw that I could still not bend my knee much more than 90 degrees. He said that I had probably done too much physio after the operation and did I think that I could live with the knee as it now is. I thought well, do I have much choice?
The point is that I followed all the instructions given to me by the hospital post operation, and the advice followed the advice given by the physio dept. It appears, on the face of it, that these instructions and the advice have caused the restoration of my knee to its normal operation, to fail.
I carried out all of the physio tasks given to me in several leaflets, following the instructions to the letter. I carried out the physio as advised in the leaflets for several days after returning home. I returned to the hospital for a reason not associated with the knee operation a week later and went to the physio dept to return some equipment that used to be used by my wife. I spoke to the chief physio person and asked him about his view that I was unable to bend my knee hardly at all. (I did appreciate that the operation was quite recent). He recommended that I use a small pedal machine several times a day to exercise the knee. I purchased such a machine and began to use it 3 times a day for 30 revolutions. It did little or no good and was uncomfortable/mildly painful when used. I gave it up after a week.
I attended a clinic at Thetford Healthy Living Center some time later and explained to him that I was unable to bend my knee more than 90 degrees and also told him about the machine recommend by the physio dept. He told me not to use the machine at all and further he would be writing to the physio dept (I am not sure exactly what he wrote) but I assume it was to tell them not to recommend this machine as physio treatment for my type of knee replacement.
On a very recent visit to the clinic, he saw that I could still not bend my knee much more than 90 degrees. He said that I had probably done too much physio after the operation and did I think that I could live with the knee as it now is. I thought well, do I have much choice?
The point is that I followed all the instructions given to me by the hospital post operation, and the advice followed the advice given by the physio dept. It appears, on the face of it, that these instructions and the advice have caused the restoration of my knee to its normal operation, to fail.
An on ward death
ward G5
March 20, 2023
I wanted to share my experience with the hospital so that a side room might be made available immediately for the grieving after a death, plus allowing quick freeing up of the bed for the living.
My husband was a cancer patient and died on the ward in August 2022. I was late on arrival due to grief, to say a final goodbye. They had laid him out beautifully, but 1 nurse in particular was excessively hurrying me and brusque I think for being hassled by A&E for the bed. This I appreciated.
I went to the reception desk to ask what had happened, had a bit of a turn, needed to be given a chair and glass of water. Staff were kind but I am obviously in the way. I returned to the ward and 2 nurses by the body said take your time. I am trying to give his body final last hugs, recover and hurry at the same time. The hassled nurse coming by again and again "can I move on" and finally in a most curt manner flung open the curtain and said "you have to go. Now". Surely they could see I'd almost packed up. I left the ward in tears of distress, not at my husband's death but at the brusqueness of this healthcare practitioner... My grief made heavier.
I don't want this particular nurse singled out, pulled up, reprimanded, penalised or anything else such. Yes, the hospital set at the time let me down but also let this nurse down too. This situation has simply highlighted room for practical improvement.
After consideration I wanted to make the following suggestions so that other grieving families may experience things better than myself. Especially as you consider the development of the new hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
1) There needs to be a separate private room where the deceased can be laid to allow the family to say goodbye with dignity, before the body is moved to the mortuary. A cruel foray to be avoided if possible.
2) There needs to be a swap over mobile cabinet that can be moved, so deceased effects cabinet can be moved & dealt with by relatives quietly in aforesaid room.
3) A patient rest room to be provided for visitors whilst waiting for relatives to come back from scans etc (aka Old Papworth rest room) on the ward. For anxious, feeble, elderly & distressed visitors do not have to sit outside the ward in a public corridor on cold plastic seats, inconveniencing the staff with the buzzer every time they want to come back on the ward. Colour scheme preferable soft and comforting (peach/apricot). Lamps / uplighters so soft, not harsh or clinical. Fridge: I was kindly told I could leave my husband's special milk in the staff fridge (again under their feet). Unfortunately it got used up. Very useful to have tea/coffee/milk separate in this rest room thus freeing up space for staff.
4) Cafe - please can the new cafe be a whole food / organic cafe thus implementing NHS guidelines on healthy, nutritious eating. White refined food stuffs are over sugary and highly carcinogenic.
My husband was a cancer patient and died on the ward in August 2022. I was late on arrival due to grief, to say a final goodbye. They had laid him out beautifully, but 1 nurse in particular was excessively hurrying me and brusque I think for being hassled by A&E for the bed. This I appreciated.
I went to the reception desk to ask what had happened, had a bit of a turn, needed to be given a chair and glass of water. Staff were kind but I am obviously in the way. I returned to the ward and 2 nurses by the body said take your time. I am trying to give his body final last hugs, recover and hurry at the same time. The hassled nurse coming by again and again "can I move on" and finally in a most curt manner flung open the curtain and said "you have to go. Now". Surely they could see I'd almost packed up. I left the ward in tears of distress, not at my husband's death but at the brusqueness of this healthcare practitioner... My grief made heavier.
I don't want this particular nurse singled out, pulled up, reprimanded, penalised or anything else such. Yes, the hospital set at the time let me down but also let this nurse down too. This situation has simply highlighted room for practical improvement.
After consideration I wanted to make the following suggestions so that other grieving families may experience things better than myself. Especially as you consider the development of the new hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
1) There needs to be a separate private room where the deceased can be laid to allow the family to say goodbye with dignity, before the body is moved to the mortuary. A cruel foray to be avoided if possible.
2) There needs to be a swap over mobile cabinet that can be moved, so deceased effects cabinet can be moved & dealt with by relatives quietly in aforesaid room.
3) A patient rest room to be provided for visitors whilst waiting for relatives to come back from scans etc (aka Old Papworth rest room) on the ward. For anxious, feeble, elderly & distressed visitors do not have to sit outside the ward in a public corridor on cold plastic seats, inconveniencing the staff with the buzzer every time they want to come back on the ward. Colour scheme preferable soft and comforting (peach/apricot). Lamps / uplighters so soft, not harsh or clinical. Fridge: I was kindly told I could leave my husband's special milk in the staff fridge (again under their feet). Unfortunately it got used up. Very useful to have tea/coffee/milk separate in this rest room thus freeing up space for staff.
4) Cafe - please can the new cafe be a whole food / organic cafe thus implementing NHS guidelines on healthy, nutritious eating. White refined food stuffs are over sugary and highly carcinogenic.
Palliative Care for a dying relative
End of life care
March 14, 2023
I would like to give my huge thanks to the Palliative Care Nurse Team at West Suffolk Hospital, who provided compassion, experience and advice, to ease the passing of my dying father.
Treatment excellent, food not good
Orthopaedics
March 8, 2023
I had to wait over two years for my hip operation, it was cancelled twice. I did find that the staff were kind and helpful to me. They had me up and out of bed most mornings, all of my follow up appointments went well, so the medical treatment was excellent the only thing I would say was that the food given to patients was poor.
