Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Calow, Top Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 5BLContact details and Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
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Reviews
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Review titled A&E attendance as a terribly anxious person
by eaglezq63 - Posted on 06 October 2023
Working for the NHS, my job is incredibly stressful and challenging and I know from firsthand experience about the pressures on our healthcare system. I am also currently studying,which is further contributing to my stress levels, & as if this was not stressful enough, my partner and I have decided to start trying for a baby. I've come off of the medication I was taking to manage my stress & anxiety in an attempt to transition on to something less harmful during pregnancy. My head is essentially all over the place, I feel pretty rough from the withdrawals and new side effects & my anxiety levels are through the roof. I recently had my contraceptive coil removed as it had been in for 5 years at this point and, as mentioned, my partner and I are thinking about trying for a baby. Everything was fine & well until I sustained a bump to my abdomen and started experiencing significant pain and heavy bleeding. Already incredibly anxious, I contacted 111 for reassurance and they advised that with my symptoms I attend A&E for a pelvic examination. We attended the new emergency department at Chesterfield and the reception were helpful, check in was speedy, observations were also speedy and it wasn't long until I was called in to a room. This is where things went a bit wrong. Whilst being asked for my history, another nurse started the process of taking bloods. I had to repeat my history several times, which was difficult to do while having my bloods taken and a cannula was inserted without me knowing that's what was happening. By this point I'd started to panic about what was going on & why I was being cannulated. I explained my anxieties and it seemed as though the nurses couldn't have cared less. I was then sent back out in to the waiting room. The waiting room was hot and stuffy and very crowded by this point and I started experiencing a panic attack. My partner asked whether there was a quiet room I could sit in, to be told that the quiet room was not staffed over night. I ended up sitting outside on the steps to the entrance, in the rain, for the remainder of my 5 1/2 hour visit as I could not get my anxiety under control. My husband sat inside and called me in when it was time to be seen. The doctor I saw (3 & 1/2 hours in to my visit) was lovely and agreed that I needed a pelvic exam and that they would contact the gynaecologist on call to assess me. I sat outside until the gynaecologist was available and they were honestly the kindest, most wonderful, reassuring doctor I've encountered. They took their time to listen to me and reassure me, providing me with advice. They soothed my anxiety and ensured my pelvic exam was as dignified as possible despite having difficulties locating a chaperone and lacking the tools to do their job (the light on the wall did not work and they had to find a torch). They then ensured my cannula was removed (it took them a while to find someone) and I was discharged.
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 12 October 2023
Hi Eaglezq63, I am sorry to hear you had a panic attack waiting within the department. The quiet area for the new build ED is not operational currently at any time I'm afraid due to demands on staff in the rest of the department. I am glad the start and end of the journey were a good process for you, and I'm pleased to hear you got the support you needed from the specialist doctor you were referred to. I'm sorry the department was so busy when you attended and you waited so long as we would aim to see and discharge patients within the target of four hours. We are currently experiencing very high demand for services, which impacted on your experience. I will feed back to the nursing team around your anxieties not being listened to, and the reason for a cannula not being explained. I hope you have recovered from your accident and wish you the best in your future hopes! I would like to thank you for sharing your concerns, as listening to our patients is how we learn from your experience. Thanks, Lynsey Hamer Senior Matron Emergency Department
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Review titled High standards and efficiency
by giraffesz35 - Posted on 21 September 2023
I had a lot of abdominal pain so went to A&E as not able to contact my GP. The taxi driver signposted me. I barely waited at all - straight to triage then cubicles, then a short wait for the doctor. Bloods also taken and ECG very swiftly. All clean and comfortable surroundings. The doctor called but I didn't hear properly due to their accent and I had to go find them. Can we have our names on those overhead screens instead? Sent me for x-ray, again very quick despite a lot of people waiting too. Results instantaneous , bloods a couple of hours but to be expected. Comfortable wait, chatting to fellow patient. Called in, prescribed meds sent home,happy patient.Diagnosis=UTI. I worked at this hospital (now retired) for 40 years. I am very pleased to see the standards and efficiency still very good. Everyone so kind,caring and professional.
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 22 September 2023
Dear giraffesz35, Thank you for your positive comments regarding your experience here in the Emergency Department. I have shared your wonderful suggestion to have names on the overhead screens with the team. I wish you a speedy recovery. Kind regards Ashleigh Marris-Murrell Quality Governance Lead Medicine and Emergency Care
Provided by Care opinion
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Review titled First class care in dermatology
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 12 September 2023
The specialist clinical nurse was engaging, helpful, supportive, communicative, trustworthy and used her skills, knowledge and experience to assist with my dermatology concerns. I have Asperger's Syndrome and hospital visits are challenging, mainly due to the environment and abrupt, arrogant medical professionals who for some reason take umbrage at being asked lots of questions. The specialist nurse today could not have been more professional of my needs, along with the department and the hospital. Thankyou for helping rebuild some modicum of trust back in the NHS which has been obliterated due to frequent unacceptable experiences.
Visited Dermatology on September 2023
Chesterfield Royal Hospital has not yet replied.
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Review titled Dreadful infection control
by Molly Louise - Posted on 03 October 2023
Visited Dermatology with my husband. The Doctor picked at his lesion using a pair of tweezers they had to rummage on their desk to find. Not wiped before use. Didn't wash their hands or wear gloves. Leg placed on foot stool again not cleaned prior or covered over. Bits picked off the lesion were just left to fall on the stool - how many other bits were on there from other patients? Tweezers wiped over with dry tissue after use and placed back on desk. Hands not washed before touching patient notes pen etc. This level of disregard for infection control left me horrified. How do we know that the tweezers had not been used on anything infectious on another patient. The picking at the lesion made it bleed so an open wound even though small but not cleaning of skin or equipment. This is just appalling practice. I spoke to a Health Care Assistant who shrugged and said that nurse's wouldn't do that. Surely doctors should be subject to to the same infection control procedures as nurses. Having worked in the NHS for over 30 years I know this is not acceptable. My husband did not want a fuss caused at the time. I am very worried about future treatment including removal of the lesion. Will any infection control procedures be followed? Also the Doctor was dismissive of questions and did not give any information about the future procedure - I had to go back and ask.
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 04 October 2023
I am really sorry to hear about your experience and would be really grateful if you could contact us CRHFT.patientexperience@nhs.net, so that we can look into this further please.
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Review titled Been spoken to like im wrong
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Brandon Brazier - Posted on 24 September 2023
Been to a and e and been spoken to like im a child and been told i had xray in 1 hour of arriving at a and e 3 hours later still no xray. So if my metatarsal is broken its Calow too blame
Visited Accident and emergency services on September 2023
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 03 October 2023
I am very sorry to learn of your experience and I hope to assure you that this is the not the service we aim for. I would like to look into this further for you. Would it be possible for you to provide me with some more information about your visit? With kindest regards Rachel Walker - Patient Experience Advisor
Provided by Care opinion
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Review titled I wish designers would try it out in a wheelchair themselves
by Wheels58 - Posted on 29 September 2023
I am a wheelchair user and needed to go to A&E last week. I attended with my husband. We got in the reception and found the reception desk far too high for anyone in a wheelchair. No one could see me nor me them. I'm hard of hearing too and when my husband told them I was there they continued to sit and made no attempt to stand or engage with me. There was a lower desk area to the side but no one was there and it was partially blocked by computer screens which defeated the purpose of it being there. I went to it and tried to get someone's attention, eventually someone came and took some details but then she told me to then go to her colleague who was sat behind the higher bit of the desk who I couldn't see or hear. I ended up myself going to the end where the opening was for staff to get in to the reception area and trying to get her attention. The whole design in that area is not ideal for wheelchair users, the seating area too wasn't thought out properly either which was very narrow. This is such a shame as it is a new build. I wish designers would actually try it out in a wheelchair themselves and see how it works out.
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 29 September 2023
Dear Wheels58, I would like to apologise for your experience here at Chesterfield Royal Hospitals Emergency Department (ED). I would like to share with you that the Trust has undergone an external review, that focussed on accessibility around the Trust. They have published a report alongside recommendations that the Trust is working on improving. We will also take on board your valid comments regarding your experience here in the ED, as part of the improvement working group. I would also like to thank you for raising your concerns, so we can improve future patients experiences. Kind regards Ashleigh Marris-Murrell Quality Governance Lead Medicine and Emergency Care
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Review titled They don't prioritise patients in accordance to injuries
by firexn75 - Posted on 04 October 2023
Checked in to A&E department around 9pm. Wasn’t busy and people were seen quickly. But my son with additional needs was left waiting for 5 hrs to be seen. Others had come in and been seen and left before he was seen. The pain so severe that he was sick, no pain relief given until asked and asked for. Cold drinks ran out of vending machine, no cups to get water for my son. After waiting 5 hrs was seen by doctor, doctor rude and didn’t understand my son and neither took notice of his additional needs meaning he couldn’t explain himself properly. Sent to X-ray and didn’t know where it was, poor directions given to get there. Once had X-ray waited a further 3 hrs to be seen again. Don’t feel they prioritise patients in accordance to the severity of their injuries - upon speaking to another patient, they had small mark to hand, and were seen within 20 minutes for X-ray and done. A&E department needs to book their ideas up. Staff seemed to be having loads of brakes. Patients under the influence of drugs or alcohol walking around and harassing other patients without staff intervention. Never in all the time I have visited A&E have I had to wait so long and this was also busy times. 4-5 hours tops. Since new build, waiting times are ridiculous and badly run.
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 05 October 2023
Dear Firexn75, Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry for your experience, I hope to assure you that this has been escalated to the relevant staff to investigate and respond to you. With kind regards Rachel Walker - Patient Experience Advisor
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Review titled Friendly and helpful staff
by fool - Posted on 25 August 2023
Had a colonoscopy, going in feeling very apprehensive and nervous. Put at ease with friendly and helpful staff. Following the procedure an excellent explanation of what happened. So left calm and grateful. Thank you
Visited August 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Chesterfield Royal Hospital has not yet replied.
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Review titled Poor service
by Disgusted2023 - Posted on 15 August 2023
I am absolutely disgusted with the charade you call the A+E department. Under staffed, no doctors and 7 hrs wait for just blood results. In my view your department is pathetic and a joke
Visited August 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 21 August 2023
Dear Disgusted2023, I am sorry to read your comments about your recent experience here at the A+E department at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. I hope to reassure that this is not the standard we aim for. I will ensure that your comments are forwarded to the relevant team for feedback. With kindest regards Rachel Walker - Patient Experience Advisor
Provided by Care opinion
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Review titled Short visit to ED
by Sandy500 - Posted on 31 August 2023
Had a fall while out walking and injured both feet. My daughter drove me to ED where I was checked in, had x rays and out within 2 hours. I was given a pair of crutches but no foot supports or dressing for my badly grazed knee. I felt the service was good as I was prepared for a long wait. However, maybe the cut backs don't allow for dressing etc. So we bought some on the way home.
Visited August 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Replied on 01 September 2023
Dear Sandy500, I am pleased to hear of your positive experience whilst attending the Emergency Department. I would like to apologise that you were not provided with dressings on discharge, I have fed this back to the team in the Emergency Department. Kind regards Ashleigh Quality Governance Lead Medicine and Emergency Care
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Information supplied by Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust