January 6, 2009

I AM writing in response to an article published two weeks ago, following formal complaints against the King Eward VII Memorial Hospital (photo above) by two members of the public.

I'm not negating these complaints, but I'd like to say that for the two weeks I was in there, my treatment was good.

There is a staff shortage – the nurses were taking extra shifts, some of them working 12 hours. When you look at all the people on Curtis Ward, all the elderly people that need feeding, it can take time, but the nurses are only human.

I was in a room with three others, two of whom were very elderly. If you have two nurses and an aide working, they can't feed everybody at once, especially as some need changing.

I found all the nurses cheerful, and kind to older patients. They'd joke around with us. The poor girls were running around giving out medication, while someone else was calling out for something else, and another patient ringing a bell for something else. They were all over the place.

As for food trays allegedly being left outside the rooms, these trays are delivered from the kitchen. Nurses distribute them; it's not the kitchen help's place to do that.

I know there's been a lot of controversy about the hospital, but I found them really excellent. It's staff they need. I think the Bermuda College course will be beneficial, but only if they do two years at the College then two further years. They need to be fully qualified. If they don't do the full two extra years, it won't be full training; it won't be any better than what they have now.

Curtis Ward itself needs renovating. But the staff were pleasant, and went out of their way as short on help as they were.

Nobody ever looks at the positive; it's the big complaints that always make it in the press.

I'd like to thank the nurses for the care I had. The hospital was excellent.

ALFREDA SAMUELS

Pembroke