Royalfree Reviews 

Another appointment at the marvellous Hand Trauma dept at the nhs Royal Free . Hampstead. Today the lovely staff nurse Marie with her expert skills , tender care , warm and cheery disposition and advice was so reassuring. My two week experience of this hospital including admin staff doctors and nurses has been above and beyond all expectations. Cant thank them enough . Had to give Marie a hug today xxx

Dad was well looked after
It’s a shame he had to wait to be seen, but once he was seen, he was looked after very nicely
Personally think it would’ve been even better if somebody would’ve offered him a drink or some food whilst he was waiting

The Royal Free pharmacy at the pond street site never seem to have prescribed items in stock. This is the second time in less than 2 months that a patient has been unable to get a clinic prescribed eye medication from the pharmacy.

We went to the emergency room at Royal Free since my 21 year old son was experiencing severe chest pain and shortness of breath. He has had heart palpitations before so this time we thought it’s best to investigate as it was getting worse. We went in the hospital around 9pm, they did the initial assessments and sent us to another waiting room. They told us the wait would be 6hrs initially. I was willing to wait even though my son was very agitated and in pain. I was scared to take him home incase god forbid something would happen.we went into a crammed up room, with no ventilation or windows! There were some patients with severe coughs. I’m surprised after all the Covid experience ppl come into hospitals without masks when they have such horrid coughs! Very inconsiderate! After waiting more than 10 hours, we finally decided to go home as it was impossible to sit and wait for any longer. I honestly think the NHS has severely declined and it was a very bad experience. I would’ve thought chest pain would be prioritised but it seems it’s not.

I've actually given 2 stars because I'm usually a big fan of the Royal Free hospital.
However:
I had a particular clinic appointment last November, and a follow-up clinic was booked (at that time) for a telephone consultation today.
But in mid March I began to have intermittent stomach pains. So on 25th March I went along personally to the reception of the clinic and asked for it to be changed to a face to face appointment. A very helpful receptionist said it was no problem as the doctor in question was on site on 12th May when he'd be doing both face to face and telephone appointments. My appointment time was 2.40pm.
Just after 12.31pm today (over 2 hours before the appointment time) - I was in my local supermarket and I had a call from the hospital. A gentleman introduced himself (I could hardly hear him - I was in a crowded shop) and said - I've brought your appointment forward.
I interrupted him - and said that it's face to face later on this afternoon. He wasn't very pleasant and said - no it's a telephone clinic - so I explained that I'd changed it - and when I'd done so. And I asked for his name again - which I still couldn't hear .
He asked why I wanted it face to face - and I explained about my stomach pains and that they are now more constant (and I don't believe if any doctor wants to examine my stomach - that it can be done over the phone - hmmm) .
And when I asked - politely - if he could tell me his name again - he barked at me - 'for the third time and said his name ' (which I still couldn't hear.
He then said he'd note down that I'd be in later on to see the consultant.
I arrived at 2.30pm - had to go through this whole saga again - but happily (at the time) I was told it was fine.
Time dragged on and well after 3.10pm I asked one of the nurses (very pleasant they were) how long it was likely to be....
Much toing and froing - no real answer, and I was even asked if I'd like to reschedule my appointment. Errr - no...
Much much later I overheard that the consultant was then in the operating theatre!
But no-one had had the decency to find that out until I was asking questions or to let me know or the other - quite poorly patient who was also waiting - and she had been called in the same day for an urgent appointment.
Of course one understands that emergencies happen but they can't just leave patients sitting there - virtually ignored.
It turned out that there was no other doctor in clinic - no registrar etc.
So after more nagging by me - eventually a registrar turned up .
My appointment started shortly after 4.45pm - over 2 hours late - and it wouldn't have happened at all if I hadn't been so persistent.
Total lack of care and respect for patients.

Barnet Hospital – A Place of Broken Promises and Lasting Trauma
Dangerous, Negligent, and Dehumanising Care

My experience at Barnet Hospital was not only medically negligent—it was deeply traumatic. I was treated with such cruelty, dishonesty, and disregard for my dignity that I continue to suffer from severe PTSD. The pain was not just physical—it was emotional, psychological, and lasting.

From the beginning, my family and I were promised a private room with one-to-one care. These assurances were given multiple times to me, my husband, and my family. We trusted those words. But in the early hours of the morning, around 3am, I was forcibly removed from that room. I was crying, terrified, and in pain, begging them not to move me. When I asked why they were breaking their promise, a nurse shouted at me instead of giving any explanation. That moment shattered me. The betrayal I felt that night still haunts me.

Throughout my stay, staff repeatedly told me what they thought I wanted to hear, then did the exact opposite. The ward I was placed in was completely neglected. Nurses ignored patients while they painted their nails, took personal calls, and watched Netflix. Alarms rang out, unanswered. It was a culture of apathy, masked by false reassurances.

The night staff were often asleep at their stations, completely detached from their responsibilities. The level of care was not just substandard—it was nonexistent.

The consultant assigned to me was incredibly rude and dismissive. When I requested to be transferred to private care as I have a private policy due to my distress and the clear neglect, I was blocked. I was told the NHS “doesn’t do that,” and when I explained that I felt unsafe because the staff were dangerous and negligent, I was met with hostility.

One night, I had a dangerously high temperature of 38.9°C. A nurse told me to strip down to cool off. At 3am, while I was half-naked, a hooded cleaner walked into the room. I was mortified. No one warned me or even had the decency to close the curtains around my bed. I couldn’t do it myself at that point, and they just left me exposed.

Next to me was a patient with dementia who would wander into my tiny bed space at all hours, confused and frightened. She would hover over me during the night, asking where she was. I had to comfort her, explain where she was, and guide her back to bed—because the staff weren’t doing it. She deserved proper care too, but she didn’t get it. Like me, she was abandoned.

The entire ward smelled strongly of faeces, day and night. Many of the patients were incontinent and left uncleaned. The stench made me nauseous and I often vomited because of it. The bathrooms were filthy—covered in faeces, urine, and used tissues. Most of the toilets were marked as “infectious” and inaccessible. One woman would fall asleep on the toilet, and I’d be left trying to hold in my urine while searching for a functioning, sanitary bathroom.

Staff attempted to catheterise me despite it being completely unnecessary. I was mobile and able to use the toilet, but they insisted—just to measure my output, which could’ve been done without such an invasive procedure. I refused multiple times, but they continued to pressure me. It felt like they wanted to assert control, not provide care.

Repeatedly, I was subjected to failed cannula insertions. My arms were black and blue. One nurse caused my hand to swell badly during a botched attempt. I begged them to stop, but instead of calling someone more experienced, she kept trying—over and over again.

Eventually, after almost a month, they inserted a PICC line. But by then, my stomach, thighs, and legs were already bruised from countless unnecessary injections.

On the day of my transfer for a procedure at Royal Free, I was woken at 5am in so much pain. No nurse helped me prepare. No IV. No pain relief. I was left in excruciating pain for 15 hours. I had heart palpitations, I was crying, and I could barely breathe. I was told I couldn’t be given anything because I was due for a procedure, but this was another lie. When I finally arrived at Royal Free, I waited for hours before placed me on fluids and gave me IV morphine. I was dehydrated and in a terrible state.

Barnet Hospital failed me in every conceivable way. They didn’t just neglect my medical needs—they violated my dignity, inflicted psychological harm, and left me traumatised. I barely got any sleep as it was so noisy on that ward it was impossible to get any rest. How was I meant to heal?

If you don’t care about people, you shouldn’t work in healthcare. It is a sacred duty, and what I endured was a disgrace.

No one should ever have to go through what I did.

I had an appointment for a double endoscopy with a colonoscopy on 4/13/2025. The staff were very good in dealing with me. After doing what was necessary for me, I was transferred to the hall and was offered water, tea with milk, and a biscuit bag. The nurses were all..1.lady Rossana Yap &2.mr Regien Ventura &2.Josephine Samson. I thank them for this care and reception. They were smiling, especially. Rossana.

Dear Ruthie
Unfortunately, you can't sue them because no solicitor will take the case. The system is set up in a way that they can get away with anything, and that is why they are behaving like that. You are lucky they didn't finish him off because that is what they do if they can't discharge a patient quickly.

Here currently on the 7th floor chaperoning soneone waiting surgery. The nurse had no idea where on the list the person I was chaperoning was. She told us time slots meant nothing and walked off. Very poor communication. I work in the nhs and I would reprimanded for speaking to a patient like this and then walking off. Poor performance Royal Free. Avoid at all costs. Still here waiting at 15.30. Just to update was left waiting in the corridor after surgery for a nurse to take me back to the ward.
Choose another Trust over this one if you can. Best avoided.

The worst ever hospital in history it should be taken down
My dad who elderly they don’t care they try to save someone younger then him and move him around the ward like lunatics avoid at all cost I would rather die slowly at home then go to royal
I am going to sue royal free for negligence and unprofessional behaviour marks my words

I had a biopsy in early March. I rang my surgery today to find out why I hadn't been contacted with the results. They said a letter dated FEBRUARY had been sent to the surgery & to me. Of course, the letter never arrived.
Yesterday my wife attended for an endoscopy. It couldn't go ahead because the hospital had failed to send her a letter telling her to fast for 24hours.
The Royal Free is best avoided.

The Royal Free's outpatient's appointment system is bust.

They never contact you for your consent or availability for a given appointment. The 12-digit system code required to change an appointment is not declared in the letters you get from the hospital. The longer you hang onto a telephone call to the outpatients' centre the more likely you will get cut off.

They often don't work in concert with the NHPs app.

The system is bust.

I'm currently here,on the 7th floor, prostrate op. Can not fault the place!! Staff are more than helpful and kind. Doctors explain everything clearly. My sister died in here due to a balls up during a scan,so coming here for an operation was nerve racking. Needn't have worried.

I didn't even want to give 1 star.
Ward 10 North, please do not let any elderly relatives stay on this ward.
With what I experienced as a visitor is absolutely disgusting. I would not trust anyone I know to be put on this ward. Animals get treated a lot better.
The staff do not care about their patients at all, they are definately doing the job for money not anything else.
I will never forgive them with the way they treated my Mum like I said to them would you treat your mum the way you have treated mine.
The staff even argue with each other, unbelivable that they have time to do this when they have no time for their patients.
There were two nurses that actually treated my mum with care, I wish I had taken their names as this review is not about them.
Please stay away from Ward 10 North.
This used to be one of the best hospitals now it is certainly one of the worst.

The doctor and nurse are rude they don't have empathy they took my mother's life they let her die from her pain and left her in palliative care she had leukemia which could be treat they stingy with the medicine too, My mother died from their poison blood transplant.
In one month that hospital killed two patient please people don't trust them

I am a type two diabetic patient.I also have heart disease.
I was adsmitted as a emergency due to infections to both feet. I waitd ages for an assessment but this is not the problem. I arrived at 11-00am and asked for a sandwich to topup my sugar level. It tppk an hour to get the sandwich.During my stay, I had to have x ray and blood tests and the results took a minimuim of one hour to be provided with no memeber of staff telling me what was going on . was at no time offered heart medication; I had none at home that day.I have had triple by pass surgery and died twice.
I could go on listing the calumnys but I wont. I have been in many hospital A and E departments but none as slow and impersonal as this one. This was my first visit to the Royal Free and the last..

I went into hospital with unbearable right side abdominal pain on Thursday 4.30am 21/11/24. They acted fast giving me painkillers, took blood tests, set me up on IV fluids and sent me for a CT scan. Staff were very kind and reassuring al the way through. I was given a diagnosis of an appendicitis Thusday evening and had the operation at 9.45am Friday morning 22/11/24. Had they waited longer, the appendix could have burst. They moved so fast and I am so grateful to them! Yes you may need to bring along food and water as they don't tend to bring you this until you're on a Ward which can be hours later. I trust this hospital. Remember your toothbrush! :)

IT CAN'T BE ANYWORST, IT TOOK ME 7 DAYS TO BOOK A BLOOD TEST APPOINTMENT, AS I WAS MOSTLY NUMBER 18 IN A QUEUE, AND WHEN I ARRIVED ONTIME, THE WAITING ROOM WAS FULL AND THE QUEUE OUSIDE WAS ABOUT 30 PATIENTS LONG, IF I HAD WAITED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN @ LEAST AN HOUR TO ONE AND HALF HOUR . . .

If anyone thinks of emailing Royal Free PALS department, don't waste your time. You will just be ignored - which shows how much these people care about patient issues

Dear Ms C Skinner,

I trust this message finds you well. I am writing to express my dissatisfaction and concerns regarding the recent invoice we received for services related to a biopsy for skin cancer.

To provide context, we had initially reached out to inquire about the cost of a screening and treatment. Despite our request, we did not receive any information regarding the terms and conditions or confirmation of an appointment. To our surprise, a booking was made without the patient's authorization.

Furthermore, we want to highlight that we did not agree to a specific treatment and never confirmed attending the clinic for a second opinion prior to the biopsy. Dealing with potential cancer is a stressful and emotionally challenging situation, and we find it insensitive to be pursued for payment while grappling with such heartbreaking news.

We kindly request clarification on the charges incurred, an explanation for the lack of communication on terms and conditions, and an assurance that steps will be taken to prevent unauthorized bookings in the future. We believe open communication and understanding are crucial, especially in sensitive matters like this.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt response and resolution.

Sincerely,

C Lopez