It has got to me this week. I’ve just had a catalogue of work things which made me a bit on the depressed side.

Some members of staff came to me to tell me some of their challenges with colleagues and workload.

Some were shocking and others made me sad. Another friend has a loved one who suddenly became very ill and the treatment they got was less than acceptable. And it got to me.

I love this hospital, and my colleagues, so to hear some less than good stories took me aback. Of course, there are the proper channels to take complaints and concerns to, and I directed the people who approached me to these channels; whether that be our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, or our Patient Liaison Service.

And I spent time listening, really listening, to these people and I hope in some ways that helped too. But it didn’t ease my feelings.

Now when I first started my Chaplain’s Blog, its aim was to give a voice to the hundreds of people who get fantastic service from our hospital which rarely get reported in the press. And that is right – otherwise it is tempting from what you read to think the hospital is crumbling around you.

But equally important is to name the things which are not good. To speak out about the inadequate treatment of patients and staff. Why? Because unless we are honest with ourselves, we will never fix the problems.

Now make no mistake, the good things that happen in this hospital outweigh the bad by one hundredfold: I was only talking to a family 20 minutes ago with their dying loved one, and heard how they spoke of the exceptional treatment and kindness which he, and they, had received.

But to speak out the bad treatment is necessary too. It’s the only way we will get better. So if you have a great story of treatment then send it to me and I will put it on my Chaplain’s Blog. And if you have had an awful time, tell me, and I’ll pass it on. The only way to fix it is to know what’s wrong. Over to you.