Hawkhurst Community Hospital - Cranbrook

Joseph King

My elderly mother was admitted for rehab following an operation and was there for 4 weeks. The hospital doctor visited her once on admission, but was never seen again. She is semi paralysed on one side and required physio to improve her walking and exercise her muscles, but received only one short visit to the physio area and was seen for a very short time in her room by a physiotherapist. She was taken by nursing staff on walks on only two occasions. She asked for more input and exercise, but was ignored. The majority of the time, the only exercise she had was walking to the toilet in her room. Most of the nursing staff were non attentive and non engaging in conversation, seemingly uncaring. When being given her medication on one occasion, she told the nurse that she needed to be given eye drops as she requires it every night due to dry eye, but the nurse refused her request, despite her pleas. It was only after she created a fuss and asked to see the senior nurse, that she was given that medication.

Day of discharge was a disaster as the attending nurse was very brusque, dismissive and telling my mother to hurry up, informing her that “I don’t have all day” (my mother is a stroke sufferer who can only move slowly). At one point, appearing displeased, the nurse threw her wash bag, leaving it for her to pick it up to put in to her home bag. The tripod walking stick that she uses belonged to my mother and had her name and address on it, but the nurse insisted that it belonged to the hospital and had to stay. Again, she had to kick up a fuss before she was taken notice of and given her tripod walking stick to take home. My mother left the hospital very upset and distressed by the whole experience and asked to be discharged home early because of it.

How this hospital can call itself a rehabilitation hospital is beyond me. The only rehabilitation they seem to offer is bed confinement 99% of the time, nothing more, with staff who are generally disinterested in offering decent care and treating the patients with disdain.

Karen Florey

First impressions were good. Most of the staff were good. But two of the staff were nasty!

Jayne Springate

Sue Parker your comments concerning your sons treatment at Hawkhurst Hospital are untrue and deeply insulting .?.naming Staff members Petra & Fiona !!!! They are the kindest most hard working and dedicated staff i have met in 37 years of nursing so considering you work for the NHS I find this extremely baffling I looked after your son as well as the incredible staff..he wanted for nothing and actually didn't want us to call you .!!!!.you wanted free housing and because you didn't get your own way you spat out your huge dummy .please think of the harm and damage you do before you comment ..
He who shouts the loudest looses the war and all that !..if anyone reading this drivel .. please go meet the staff and look round you would be made very welcome ..
It's the best Hospital.
Some Food is grown on site for patients from Sarah the cook ... I wish I could put photos of all the thank you cards from Happy families
I'm very disappointed with you Sue Parker

Sue Parker

On first impressions beautiful. Then you meet the rude patronising staff. Fiona the OT is horrible and petra the staff nurse is rude. Avoid this place at all costs they are unprofessional, uncaring and generally not nice people . At a time in life you look towards the NHS to protect and care for your loved one ,you come across these unkind people. I am so proud my son didn't let them drag him down. Shame on them!!!!

John Barrett

You have to ring on the day to make an appointment to visit. The weekends are a disaster? Ring at 8am to have the phone remain unanswered, try 10 further occasions over the next 2 hours to then be told all visiting slots are full. How? No one answers the phone? Still I can try again on Sunday morning. Rinse and repeat. All the while your relatives sit alone with no visitors. A totally depressing situation

Bored Muzza

Nursing and house keeping staff excellent but communication from OT Dept was appalling. Everyone is busy in this world, its not an excuse anymore.

Sarah Sharp

Wonderful care, it could not have been bettered. There are insufficient superlatives to say how good the care and attention is.

Lesley Dixon

They don't answer the phone for ages, but helpful once they do!