Royal Berkshire Hospital

"Incredibly pleased with my treatment. I attended minor injuries and was quickly triaged to be diagnosed with a broken ankle. It took a little time, but they got me into an overnight bed and managed to get me scheduled for a surgical repair the next day. All staff was friendly, helpful and attentive. I was pleasantly surprised that I could receive the treatment so quickly and was reassured by staff every step of the way. There was a high number of patients at the hospital, so I was very thankful that the doctors managed to assess and discharge me the day after my surgery. I cannot thank the staff at Royal Berkshire Hospital enough for their exemplary care. Thank you for repairing my ankle."

"Our GP referred my Mum to the RBH A&E department at 1530 yesterday for an urgent assessment - we left at 0230. The experience was absolutely appalling not to mention concerning. My Mum suffers with heart failure and other life changing illnesses. I had to ask four times over a three hour period for her heart medication, each time being told it was on it’s way - it never arrived. The hospital eventually said they didn’t have it to hand. Admittedly, A&E was at capacity, but this should be expected on a Friday and planned for in advance. We witnessed a poor woman have a seizure whilst waiting. There was absolutely no sense of urgency to assist her and one employee wearing green scrubs even looked on smirking which seemed bizarre given the circumstances. Other people in the waiting room came to her aid. A wheelchair user gave the family her own pillow for the woman’s head. Another man lay on the floor in agony for hours, often vomiting and nobody checked on him. The waiting area often smelt of smoke due to the smokers standing at the entrance door. The toilets were filthy and only received brief attention some six hours after our arrival. The casualty journey needs reviewing. There is too much unnecessary and pointless interactions (when you get them) and casualties presenting higher risk conditions should be seen before those with conditions that could be treated at home. The medical staff seemed overstretched and stressed, but that’s no defence for not getting the basics right. My Mum was asked three times if she’s normally fit and well which was baffling given that her medical notes and history were provided several times suggesting otherwise. On two occasions, two Consultants assumed my mum was somebody else. The confusion, no doubt was largely down to their poor record keeping. Personal casualty details were scribbled down on blank pieces of paper for all to see. Prior to leaving we were given some medication by a Consultant. Twenty minutes later a Staff Nurse issued us with the same medication. We explained we had already received it and a dose had been taken. She asked who had issued it and told us it hadn’t been signed out. She also pointed out my Mum’s name wasn’t even on the box. At times it felt like we were in a hospital in a third world country. It was shambolic from start to finish. The Clinic Lead proudly displays the hospitals core values (compassion, aspirational, resourceful, excellent) everywhere, which only adds insult to injury when it’s clear for all to see that they aren’t being delivered. I hope improvements are made before/if we ever have to return to the RBH."

"London on land donated by Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, a local resident and former Prime Minister. The hospital was built by local architect and builder Henry Bryant, who won a design competition. King William IV took great care of the hospital before it was built, and as a result, his arms appeared on the central pedestal, although he died before the hospital opened. The hospital's first patron was William's niece and successor, Queen Victoria. [2] [3] In the 1860s, the original building was extended with east and west wings designed by Joseph Morris. In the 1880s a new chapel was added to the rear of the main building, along with tall side wings. Both the chapel and side wings were also designed by Morris. [2] [3] In 1993, the NHS Trust of Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals was formed to manage both Royal Berkshire Hospital and Battle Hospital, the city's other general hospital. On February 24, 2006, the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, inaugurated the new buildings of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. This was to celebrate the completion of an eight-year project to move the services of Battle Hospital to the Royal Berkshire Hospital site. In August of the same year, the trust became the NHS Foundation Trust under the name Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, reflecting its new status and the closure of Battle Hospital. [3] [4] In 2008, the hospital was awarded "Excellent" for its use of resources and "Good" for the quality of its services in the annual Health Care Committee's Annual Health Examination of All Hospitals within the National Health Service. The Accident and Emergency Department is always one of the most efficient in the country, with more than 99% of patients being examined and treated, admitted or discharged from hospital within four hours. [5] [6] In August 2010, it was reported that the number of hospital posts would be reduced by 600, from a total of around 4,000, to achieve a savings of £60 million. In October 2013, as part of a screening process by the Care Quality Commission, based on existing data and intended to be used in prioritizing inspections, the Trust was placed in the highest risk category. [7] [8] [9] On 5 March 2020, a patient at the Royal Berkshire Hospital had the UK's first confirmed death from the COVID-19 pandemic. [10] In August 2020, the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading trialed an emergency department for the elderly and frail. [11] In November 2021, the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading began consulting the local community about a major redevelopment of the existing hospital or alternatively an entirely new development on a different site, to ensure that future planning and developments would cover everyone's needs. [12]"