Southend Hospital NHS Trust Recenzje 

Trying to get through their phone system is like something outof phonejacker on an endless loop back and forth getting nothwhere.I needed to get through to urology dept urgently but it was impossible i have heart problems and i was getting so frustrated is this the way their getting waiting lists down by giving people heart attacks.Tried again to get through to urology dept on 12/6/26 still just got the run around got palpitations had to stop trying they must know its not fit for purpose why dont they do something to fix it or are they happy that people cant get through

If I could give this 0 star, I would.

Very disappointed with the bedside manner of the receptionist and the first response nurse at the womens clinic. And the consultant for that matter.
As a pregnant lady, I had sat in over 1 hours worth of traffic (following a crash) to attend this appointment, as a result I was slightly late. The consultant Raj something refused to see me. I am pregnant, hormonal, working full time and trying my best to attend an appointment they had already cancelled TWICE ! I just think the way they chose to deal with clearly already distressed patients is appauling.

I have decided to cancel my whole maternity care due to this. Not happy at all.

I suffer from drug induced secondary adrenal insufficiency because of meds given to me by Southend hospital pain clinic without telling me of any bad side effects . The meds are for a desease of the spine called adhesive arachnoiditis given to me by radiologists at Broomfield hospital they did not aspirate the myodil x-ray medium from my spine as expressed by Glaxo . I have had 37 Addison crisis 's in the last 5 /6 years any of which can be fatal. I am under endocrine clinic at Southend hospital who are completely inept. For example I am being tapered from hydromorphone by UCLH because of the Addison desease, I phoned endocrine 3 weeks ago for medicine plan for my next taper in 10 days time as I became extremely ill the time before. I was told over two weeks ago by a non medical lady , who happened to be very nice, that the consultant would write to me regarding meds to help me for the journey and withdrawal, as yet nothing . I telephoned today answerphone as normal. I asked my GP two days ago for guidance , she said she was not qualified to deal with my condition but would send an urgent email , which she done while I was there. Still nothing. The clinicians are getting paid high salaries for nothing

My husband was taken into Benfleet ward for blockage in his neck which could have caused a stroke. The treatment received was first class. The staff were so caring and professional. They couldn’t do enough to make his stay comfortable. He was kept informed on all treatment. Thank you Benfleet ward

13/06/26 6pm-8:15pm
Triage was professional and rapid on my arrival, Reception was polite and respectful,
The Nurse practitioner Liz was kind and friendly, Xray staff was welcoming and patient with me and again Liz The Nurse practitioner was very helpful and supportive with the outcome of my aftercare.. I arrived at 6pm and left at 8:15pm
The Quickest visit to A&E in a long time..
Well done Southend A&E

Also your Young Porter who was working in the Xray area yesterday evening was polite and helpful
Thank you

Absolutely dreadful! Went to the out of hours GP service. The doctor was very dismissive and just told me that I had a viral infection. When I explained that this is the 3rd time in 6 weeks that I had had these symptoms and that the symptoms were getting worse, he told me that something was triggering the symptoms and I needed to find the trigger. I was in with the doctor for all of two minutes.The doctor was not at all interested and seemed bored. I know the doctor doesn't want to be at work on a Saturday afternoon, but honestly if I didn't feel so rotten I would have waited until Monday and seen my own GP. I had to take a taxi there and back as I didn't feel well enough to drive. A waste of £40. If I could give the service no star I would have done.

My adult son went to Southend hospital after breaking and dislocating his ankle during a football match. Honestly, the care he received was really disappointing.

Firstly they tried unsuccessfully to pop his ankle back in place.

After 6 hours of waiting at the hospital in a corridor in a wheelchair, he was then told he would need an operation.

He was sent home in a huge amount of pain without any proper pain relief — just a prescription that couldn’t even be filled until the next morning. He was also given injections to do himself but wasn’t even shown how to use them safely.
Even though he had a serious injury that needed surgery, we were told they could not operate as their list was full but they would try to get him in during the next few days.

Then, to make things even more frustrating, the hospital called the next day asking him to come back on Tuesday for a pre-assessment, while then saying the operation wouldn’t happen for at least another week.
My son can’t drive, cannot walk, and is dealing with severe pain from a broken leg, yet there seems to be very little thought given to how he was supposed to get to appointments or manage at home in the meantime.

Overall, the lack of urgency, pain relief, communication, and basic compassion throughout this whole experience was extremely upsetting. No one with such a serious injury should be treated like this.

I’m Shocked and appalled at the awful lack of care he has been and continues to be subjected to.

Visited MRI & as someone who gets anxious in enclosed spaces I can't praise the staff enough. They allowed me to go in feet first with understanding (other hospitals make a fuss over this), they were on time, very helpful & pleasant. They had a step so I didn't struggle to get on the bed & had an extra pillow for my head & one for my knees. All in all a fantastic experience.

I went in a&e as my eye has closed up overnight and it is very painful. The doctor put his phone ,ight in my eye and said there is nothing wrong with it. I am very disappointed as he was with me for 5 minutes and sent me home. I am a diabetic person and I am worried as I cannot see out of that eye and I am at higher risk of infection. Absolutely disgraceful Southend hospital is.

I'm staying in Castle Point ward, the staff are excellent, making you at ease very caring, I believe staff work long hours, but they always give first class caring

I cannot thank you enough, Shanu Shanavas Khal, for the compassion and professionalism you showed during one of the most difficult moments of our lives. When my wife received her cancer diagnosis, it was an incredibly overwhelming and emotional time for us both.

From the very beginning, you treated her with such kindness, dignity, and genuine care. You didn’t just focus on the medical side—you took the time to listen, to comfort, and to reassure her in a way that truly made a difference. Your calm and empathetic approach helped ease her fears and gave her strength when she needed it most.

It’s clear that you are not only highly skilled in your role, but that you also deeply care about your patients as people. That human touch is something we will never forget.

We are truly grateful for the support you gave us, and we feel incredibly lucky that my wife was in your care during such a critical moment. You are a credit to the NHS and to your profession.

Thank you again for everything you have done.

Dreadful Oncology team and consultant. Often can't get thru on the phone (consultant's secretary only works part-time); total lack of follow-up care following a round of chemotherapy. My husband now losing the will to live and feels totally ignored and says they don't care. I thought a consultant would be a professional but the word doesn't appear to be in his vocabulary.

The MRI team from reception to delivery were excellent.
Both informative, helpful and caring.
Thanks you for your professional application in a busy site within MRI.
its 4th march 2026.
My names Alan Long.

My husband was admitted with Alzheimer Paranoia, saw some phycologists, was referred to ROCHFORD Assessment Hospital BEECH Ward, there he died from neglect, was over Medicated, he was always asleep, I was told it was due to his Alzheimer's decline, he was not helped with eating or drinking, I started to notice his dramatic weight loss, I feel the staff were to busy for him, and noticed on a rare occasion I went in on a meal time, which usually had to book outside meal times he was left, he couldn't feed himself. so I intervened, a worker there advised I got intouch with Pals Southend, they didn't help either, only one staff member was capable her name was Ali, he died there, awful Hospital, doctor Shamly and the whole team gave the impression my husband was safe,he wasn't.

My husband and I recently attended Southend A&E, and the experience was extremely disappointing from the moment we arrived. The triage process is completely unacceptable. Everyone is expected to wait in a single line regardless of symptoms, urgency, or mobility. This is unsafe and shows no understanding of patients’ differing medical needs. On top of that, there is absolutely no privacy. Personal and sensitive medical conversations are carried out in the middle of the main reception area where everyone can hear. It is uncomfortable, undignified, and entirely inappropriate for a healthcare setting.
There was also a constant sense of confusion throughout the department. People had no idea where they were supposed to go next, and staff made no effort to guide or assist. Patients were left wandering around, clearly unsure, while staff simply watched on. Communication from doctors was virtually non-existent, and patients were passed from one area to another with no explanation or reassurance.
I also witnessed things I found genuinely concerning. People who had been waiting for hours were eventually having their observations taken — and even cannulas inserted — in the middle of the crowded waiting room, in full view of everyone. Aside from the obvious lack of dignity, this raises serious questions about infection control and basic safety.
The reception staff were abrupt and rude, which only added unnecessary stress to an already tense situation. But the most upsetting part of the visit was the attitude of some of the medical staff. At no point did we feel respected, listened to, or treated with compassion. It felt as if having the title “doctor” gave them permission to speak down to people and dismiss concerns without any explanation. There is a difference between being overwhelmed and being unkind, and unfortunately the behaviour we experienced fell into the latter. We were often spoken to in a patronising, condescending manner that left us feeling small, dismissed, and powerless in a situation where we already felt vulnerable.
In particular, the young female doctor we dealt with showed a clear lack of basic manners and respect. Her tone was abrupt, her manner was dismissive, and she showed no empathy at any point. Being busy does not excuse speaking to patients without courtesy, and the way she handled the interaction left us feeling deeply disheartened. At times it felt as though decisions were being made with no communication or explanation, almost as if some staff were “playing god” and expected us to simply accept it without question.
No one expects perfection, and we fully understand that A&E departments are under immense pressure. But pressure does not take away the responsibility to treat people with dignity, respect, and humanity. Unfortunately, the lack of organisation, communication, privacy, and basic compassion made an already stressful situation far worse than it needed to be. These issues urgently need addressing to prevent others from going through the same distressing experience.

My father was admitted to Shopland Ward after breaking his hip. What followed was a shocking display of neglect, indifference, and cruelty.
He lay in bed for four days without surgery, receiving only paracetamol for pain relief. After the operation, he remained bedbound for another eight days without any physiotherapy—until I complained. When a young physiotherapist finally arrived, they were rude, aggressive, and shouted at my father, who was already vulnerable and in pain.
From day one, his glasses were lost and never recovered. He was left with a blocked catheter for over 10 hours, despite our repeated pleas for help. When it was finally changed, his bladder contained 1300ml—an amount that could have caused rupture or serious harm.
The ward culture was appalling. Staff were often aggressive and uncaring. Rehabilitation was virtually non-existent. Patients were routinely placed in nappies, regardless of need, stripping them of dignity and independence.
Most disturbingly, a healthcare assistant named Michelle was overheard by multiple family members saying she hoped my father would hurt himself so they could recruit more staff. Despite this horrifying comment, she faced no disciplinary action and continues to work on the ward.
I submitted a formal complaint to PALS, but it was dismissed without meaningful investigation. The lack of accountability is staggering.
This experience has left our family traumatised. Shopland Ward failed my father in every possible way—medically, emotionally, and ethically. Vulnerable patients deserve compassion, safety, and respect. We received none.

Visited a relative on the surgical assessment ward yesterday. It was clean, the staff were smart and friendly. The phone was answered immediately when I rang in the morning. Staff were professional. I was impressed.

I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the complete lack of response from Eleanor Hobbs Ward on the phone.

Yesterday, I called twice from Switzerland to enquire about a very poorly friend who has been hospitalised there for the past three weeks. On both occasions, I was left on hold with background music for several minutes — no one ever picked up the phone.

I then contacted the hospital operator/receptionist, who was kind and helpful, and personally attempted to put me through to the ward. I explained that I was calling from abroad, but she confirmed what I had already experienced: no one was answering. She further mentioned that she herself had only ever managed to reach the ward once, when the Sister happened to be present.

To make matters worse, another close friend of mine living locally in the Southend area tried calling the same ward 14 times yesterday over a 12-hour period; again, not once did anyone answer. This is not acceptable.

As a nursing manager myself, this level of inaccessibility reflects poor communication practices and a severe neglect of duty. Whether deliberate avoidance or disregard, it places both relatives and friends under unnecessary distress and creates additional workload, as callers will continue to ring repeatedly in desperation.

The staff on Eleanor Hobbs Ward clearly need reinforcement training and managerial oversight regarding their professional responsibility to answer telephone enquiries promptly, courteously, and informatively. Communication with relatives and friends is an integral part of nursing care, not an optional extra.

Patients deserve dignity, and families deserve respect. When phones go unanswered, care becomes invisible and trust is broken. I urge hospital management to take immediate and decisive action to address this unacceptable culture of silence — because compassion is shown not only at the bedside, but also on the other end of the phone.

Arrived by ambulance to Shopland Ward. Diagnosed with broken leg and fractured pelvis. The best care by nurses, i am in a room with other woman all helping each other. Its lovely to see staff smiling, dancing and interactive to all patients. Special shout out to Michelle and team

very caring staff on chemo ward but husband now on 5th visit. The letter confirming says expect to be there for 2 hours. On every occasion we have been they have been running over 2hrs late and we are there for 5-6 hours. its not possible to wait with my husband - I drop him and return home and go back later to collect.

And he has still never met his oncologist or spoken to him. It's always a junior on the team who calls the day before each chemo to check he's well enough for the treatment.

its not a question of just giving them more money; the admin staff are simply incompetent.