Not a hospital stay—an ordeal in manipulation and neglect.
My dad was admitted to Southend Hospital and placed on Shopland Ward. While waiting by the lift, I noticed posters everywhere promoting Martha’s Rule—encouraging families to call if a loved one’s health was deteriorating, promising investigation and support.
After five days, my dad’s physical and mental health had clearly worsened, so I called Martha’s Rule, hoping for help. Instead, I was told that unless he was in the ICU or had already passed away, they weren’t interested. The two staff members I spoke to were not compassionate, not helpful, and gave the impression they simply didn’t want to be bothered.
Martha’s Rule at Southend Hospital felt like a false promise. In my experience, it was a waste of time—and deeply disappointing when we needed support the most.
When my dad was admitted to Shopland Ward at Southend Hospital following surgery, instead of receiving the rehabilitation he needed to return home, he was left in bed with no physiotherapy or support. He lives with his family, yet there was no effort to help him regain independence.
What made things worse was the behaviour of the staff and doctors. They would ask when family were visiting, and if we gave a specific time, they’d deliberately see him beforehand—avoiding us entirely.
We witnessed staff repeatedly pressuring elderly patients to agree to care home placements, even when it was clear they had families willing to care for them. It felt manipulative and wrong.
Despite my dad living at home, staff insisted on visiting his property and demanded door and lockbox codes without giving a valid reason. The whole approach felt calculated and intrusive.
The care was poor, the staff were often rude, dismissive, and at times aggressive—even during medical emergencies. I had to fight hard to get my dad discharged, and I never want to step foot in Southend Hospital again. This experience has left me shaken and distrustful of a system that should have supported us.
I have contacted PALS to file an official complaint, but they have refused to accept it and are now ignoring my emails. Southend Hospital is, in my opinion, a terrible hospital.