Has a anyone ever complained about nhs nursing treatment

Yes I’ve had poor nursing care and so did my Dad before he died.

Elizabeth1, yes, I did make a formal complaint about my late husband's 'care'. I'd promised him that I would as he didn't want anyone else to suffer the neglect and mistakes that he was subjected to when I wasn't there. I think you have a duty too.

Most of the staff were wonderful but overwhelmed by their workload. Two were abusive. Several dangerous mistakes were made by people rushing about and not checking things properly. It was horrendous! I managed to pin them down on things they weren't able to cover up, fortunately, and received an apology.

I, touch wood, have never been in hospital as a patient though my mum was in and out a few times before she died at 92 4 years ago, including having a new hip at 90. I was also there a few weeks ago with my daughter who had just had a miscarriage and had to go in as a day patient to have it all "taken away". I strongly feel that, although the medical and technical side of the nursing cannot be faulted the good , old fashioned , bed side nursing care was none existent. My mum needed a colonoscopy and refused because of the awful laxatives that she needed to take. It took my brother and I ages to persuade her to have it and we only managed it when the ward sister promised her privacy and dignity. It didn't materialise and mum never forgave us. I visited one day and she wasn't in her bed. She had been taken for a scan hours before and was on a trolley outside the scan room waiting for a porter. No one from the ward had wondered where she was or checked up. One evening she phoned me and said she was really cold and had told the nurses. She was told there were no more blankets anywhere in the hospital (it's a huge teaching hospital). I spoke to the sister and said if she didn't find a blanket I would bring one from home and then go to PALS. They found one in minutes. My daughter was waiting 8 hours to be taken to surgery. The staff were lovely but not one piece of information was offered. We had to constantly ask what was happening. I eventually (politely) lost my temper. A medical person I hadn't previously seen was with the nurses at their station. She was horrified. She was in charge of the theatre and had no idea my daughter was waiting despite the nurses constantly telling me it was all in hand. I pity anyone who has no one to fight their corner.

I complained about a nursing assistant when my mum was in hospital. It went all the way through the complaints procedure, when it was investigated the nursing staff closed ranks and the assistant lied. He was exonerated but I did get an apology I just hope he realised he couldn't behave the way he did and get away with it. Interestingly one of the nurses I thought was a bit unfeeling and authoritative when my mum was first admitted became the most caring and considerate member of staff when mum was seriously ill

My elderly mother had both cataracts removed in the same operation. When she was in the recovery room I had to ask the nurse in charge for a blanket for her and then she refused to let my daughter in as well saying my mother didn’t need two people there. She refused to let another patient have anyone in to accompany her. I complained to the hospital.

Yy, I understand that, Luckygirl but if it’s possible to register a complaint, it helps their work to fathom out how change the culture.

I did not want anyone rapped over the knuckles, but simply some reassurance that lessons had been learned.

I understand that - but it is hard to pursue a complaint when you may not be feeling very fit. And also, the hospital department that dealt with the complaint I made did a total whitewash - so if you do decide to complain, then be prepared to hit a brick wall and to deal with the resulting frustration and irritation.

I’ll start by saying that of course most health workers are excellent and do a fabulous job. I’ve been pretty lucky with most of my contact with the NHS.

I also recognise that there are a few who don’t come up to standard. Can I ask you to please consider making a complaint if you’ve come across such a person? My son works in the field of patient safety and the complaints hospitals receive inform his and his colleagues work to help improve services, it’s a very important element.

I remember some years ago when I had my gall bladder removed by the old-fashioned cut-you-open method. I weighed about 7 stone and was very unwell and skinny - the incision was large and agony. A nursing assistant came to put me on the commode and I winced during this process. She said "What's the matter with you? - do you think you are going to break in half?" Nice lady! - it really upset me.

mary51 that is extremely worrying as it should have been checked by an RN

Not personally (they wouldn't dare!!) but ~I did report a colleague and it was the most traumatic process in my whole career. I was eventually vindicated after a full investigation and the individual was actually removed from the register. Apparently people had grumbled about the person for years, but had done nothing.

I was admitted once a few years ago after I sort of collapsed at home face down into my plate of food! (Jet lag after return from NZ) and extreme fatigue. Kept in overnight and had excellent care but I did have to check the student nurse when she was doing my insulin as she had put in double the amount. Good job I checked.

On the whole never had cause to complain.

Elizabeth1 I have had one bad experience in years of good, post surgery I was groggy and on a ward where there seemed to be some dispute going on between the nursing staff and management. Lots of neglect. I ended up with a small bed sore and the only time a nurse looked at my operation site was when they took the two large drains out prior to discharge. A registrar in the surgical team said to me, quietly, if I were you, I would go home before you catch something.

I bore it all stoically, didn’t formally complain and just put it down to the vagaries of life.

There are excellent staff of course, and we all appreciate them I am sure.

But yes - I have had cause to make a complaint - I did not want to - I simply asked to be able to convey my concern to the right party, but was told this HAD to be done in the form of a formal complaint. It concerned the refusal of two doctors to listen when I said I could not bear weight on my foot - they said it was due to the fact that I had been in plaster. I said very clearly on several occasions that I had broken bones before and was absolutely certain this was an active fracture - they just "patted me on the head" and sent me on my way. Needless to say a second unhealed fracture was found and it was too late to resolve the problem because it was set wrong. As a consequence I now walk with a stick and have constant pain. All I wanted was to convey an "always listen to the patient because sometimes they know best!" message.

During my OH's stay in hospital last year with a fractured hip, his care was quite simply appalling - well, beyond appalling. The whole family was traumatised by it all. One of us had to be there all the time to make sure he was hydrated, clean, out of pain, treated respectfully. Perfectly dreadful.

Yes, a few times.
Particularly when my mum was in hospital, as well as times we could have complained but just couldn't find the energy.

Just over 8 years ago I was hospitalised with a bleeding stomach ulcer.
The majority of the the nursing staff were absolutely brilliant - although one that gave me a bed bath in my first day on ward, made me feel more like I was a horse being given a rub down !
I had to have a blood transfusion - all was going well until the change of shift to night duty. One unit was up and nearly finished when to my horror, I heard my name yelled from the other end of the ward by not just one of the nurses, but the night sister, yelling out my name and saying why hadn't she been told I was having a transfusion and complaining that she was too short staffed to do it !
Thankfully, one of the agency nurses came and changed the unit and kept an eye on me for the rest of the night.
When one of the nurses on day shift asked me how I had slept, I mentioned it to her and she fetched the day sister who asked if I wanted to make a complaint. I said I did so she dealt with it - that same night sister was not seen for the rest of my stay.
One of the other patients who had been on the ward for several months said the same night sister was really lazy - she used to come round at the handover(briefly) and that was the last anyone saw her until morning - apparently she had been seen sleeping in one of the empty beds (with the curtains closed around it) and also used to "borrow" books and magazines from patients lockers and sit reading them in any corner she could find. Because of the design of the ward, if the rest of the staff couldn't find her, it was supposed that she was elsewhere on the ward or she used to appear, saying she had been called to another ward.
My complaint was the final straw - not so much because of her disappearing acts but because she had breached data protection by calling out my name !

It’s such a shame isn’t it? There are obviously plenty of excellent nurses. I think there are people ( mainly young women ) who become nurses that really don’t have a caring bone in their body .

A bit like KimLesleyThomas I absolutely blame the hospital for what happened to my DH . Left in A&E . A 6ft grown man crying in absolute agony, unable to sit down with the pain . He was not even triaged for 7 hours . Can’t blame lack of staff either just absolute bad management and no one making the most basic of decisions . What followed was anyone’s worst nightmare . Emergency operation where he acquired an HAI, Sepsis and Legionella resulting in 2 months in an induced coma and on a ventilator .

Yes, had to complain about the vile treatment of my elderly mother. I lost all my trust in the treatment she received and the hospital's response. There's no question that it was negligent and witnessed. I won't go into detail but I think that people receiving poor care need to report it.

I recently made a formal complaint about a nurse technician who treated me appallingly. The Director of Nursing at the University Trust, sent me a detailed response on the steps which had been taken and would be taken in the future.

I also recently nominated two nurses for awards following my experience as an in-patient.

Both experiences were in the same hospital.

In contradiction to my original post I have also witnessed the most caring folks working very hard with little resources to support them I’ll always have a fond memory of the woman who gave me a hug in my time of need especially when she was half worked to death with the negative folks around her rushing her on to the next task. My angel gave me a moment of comfort and I’ll always be thankful to her

My H was in A&E with suspected appendicitis. He was in pain, given morphine and had to sit in the waiting room for 9 hours. After 5 hours when I asked the nurse when he would be dealt with his reply was that they had thirty people to see before him. I informed him that thirty people had already been in and out who arrived after him!! By the 8th hour he was coming to the end of the second dose of morphine we asked where the local vet was as felt that a dog would get better treatment. The consequence was that his appendix did erupt and was leaking whilst waiting and he ended up in hospital on medication before they removed it. He was in hospital for 2 weeks instead of a few days.

Teetime You must have either worked in the most amazing hospital in the world or you simply did not notice how uncaring and workshy some nurses are.
My Dh has spent a lot of time in hospital and some of the behaviour by a minority nurses we have seen have been shocking. I was once waiting for my DH to come out of Theatre, we had been told the operation would be 4 hours and he would be put on a certain ward, i sat outside the ward waiting, i was worried sick because my DH has suffered D.V.T in the past, after 5 hours i went in to ask if they knew how my DH was and would arrive on the ward, i stood beside the nurses station totally ignored by the all of the staff whilst they looked through a photograph album and talked and screeched with laughter about the nights out they had had together, all the while buzzers were being ignored. When i finally got their attention , i was told they had been waiting to discharge a patient before they brought my DH up to the ward and as that patient had just left, they would call theatre straight away, i asked them if the discharged patient had jumped from the balcony as nobody had left the ward in the last hour.They were the laziest bunch i have ever come across.
Not all Nurses are Angels

Saw the best and the worst of nursing care when a close friend had a brain bleed last year and will be forever thankful that her daughter could be with her every day to ensure her wellbeing. Some difficulties were from resourcing, some from attitude. I’m delighted you’re recovering Elizabeth, in my view you’re right to highlight your experiences, your feedback may support change. I’m not sure where you are. If in England or Wales PALS could support you, in Scotland I think similar support is available from PASS. Wishing you well.