I know it is going back 4+ years ago when I had to endure 6 weeks in Hospital with my knackered strawberry tart, but I was in when they were sending around senior staff and health visitors to question patients about the service they had received.
On the question of my overall treatment, I had nothing but praise. The staff were fantastic throughout which I guess you would expect from one of the top 3 cardio Hospitals in the country (the other 2 being in Leeds and London apparently). But then it came to other issues.
I had one of the financial directors of the Hospital visit me.
So I asked, "Why do we have to pay £27 to watch terrestial ITV or BBC TV programmes?" I could understand paying for Sky, but not channels that are free to air. He said that is down to the Hospital media suppliers. I suggested that they look for an alternative supplier.
Then I asked why is it that at meal times you are given options. In my case I cannot stand mushy peas, and so I orderd fish and chips with baked beans. I got mushy peas. I was told that was all they had. So why offer beans if you have non?
Then I asked why a portion of Cottage Pie is served with an additional portion of mashed potatoe? Surely there was already enough spud on the cottage pie? Which begged the question, how much money are they wasting sending out food which has not been ordered and will be wasted?
I then said, "I take it your kitchen is manned by a lot of Asians?" "Why do you ask?" He enquired. Maybe it had something to do with 90% of the menue being curried, spicy or of asian origin. I cannot stand curry or spicy, but that was in the main the only option and I imagine I was not alone.
Then I asked why is it that knowing that some of us are here for a longer stay than desired, our relatives have to pay best part of £10 a pop to park. For my wife, twice a day was costing a fortune and so she became dependant on getting a ift from her mother who would then collect her.
As I said to the chap, non of us are here through choice, but we have to pay for the privelige of being ill if we want visitors.
Surprisingly, my wife was very quickly given a free parking pass.
Suffice to say, I got a lot off my chest that day, non of which thisdirector bloke was able to answer.
On the plus side, The RBH Hospital in Reading does (or did at the time) do the best range of sponge pudding and custard anywhere in the country
