Hospitals

NotSpaghetti

Through charities ultimately I think. It's all very patchwork.

Reading through these threads made me wonder what happened to all Captain Tom's money that he raised. Into the millions I believe.
It was supposde to be allocated for making the staff and patient environment more pleasant whilst working or in hospital.

Doesn't sound as if its been very well used...

MT62

I know how you feel suzieb50 my dad was given a blood transfusion, it was meant to be given to the chap in the next bed.
One agency nurse giving him that blood with no proper checks.
Hospital said why didn’t he refuse it, erm because he had Alzheimer’s I think had something to do with it.
We sued!

That is inexcusable. In my day there had to be two qualified members of staff checking the blood before it went in.
You frequently heard the call, ' blood check please' before putting up the drip. It really didn't take two minutes.

It isn't up to the patient to 'refuse' a blood transfusion unless they are known JWs- it is part of the care package and consent is signed (or was) on admission.

I am appalled to read this happened.

I was in hospital a year ago having my left knee replaced for the 4 th time and waiting to go in to have my right one done now, it's now urgent as I'm unable to put weight on it. Anyway I was in for a month last time due to all the previous issues. I was in Guy's in central London and had no complaints really. Yes the nurses were run off their feet as there were not enough of them. There were plenty of Health care assistants(I think that's what they were called) who were helpful and pleasant. The food was excellent with choice from an extensive menu each day, For me the downsides were my Consultant, I never saw her once the entire month I was there and don't believe she did the surgery, but the ones who did the rounds were all fine. Sadly we had one patient who woke the whole ward up at 2am every night yelling for Jesus to help her. There were multiple complaints but she was pain so we should all just suck it up, never mind we were all in pain. This time I will go prepared with my silicon ear plugs.

Through charities ultimately I think. It's all very patchwork.

In the US, hospitals are free and all medical care is free if you are poor.

I know how you feel suzieb50 my dad was given a blood transfusion, it was meant to be given to the chap in the next bed.
One agency nurse giving him that blood with no proper checks.
Hospital said why didn’t he refuse it, erm because he had Alzheimer’s I think had something to do with it.
We sued!

MissAdventure

The poor old soul next to me shouted all night. Literally all of it.
One of the side ward patients got up all night and was agressive, shouting, coming into the ward where I was, threatening with his fists.
I had liver failure amongst other isues, and one of the main things they do is flood your body with laxative to flush out the toxic waste.

So, every night i was more than desperate for the loo, and buzzing for either a walking frame, or a bed pan.

They just ignored the buzzers, but i had a catheter, a drip, a mastectomy wound leaking pus, constant oxygen, antibiotics and a few other wires on me, all tangled and in a big lump attached to the cot sides.

They never just came.
They either shouted at me and said "come on! There's nothing wrong with your legs!"

I just couldn't get out of the bed.
It was totally humiliating.

Oh that is terrible, poor you.
Back in the day when matrons ran the wards, every thing seemed to run ship shape.
Night nurse would have a light on low & talk in whispers.
None of this bellowing down the ward.

It’s a shame Suzib50 that the nurses chat in the night like it’s 3 in the afternoon.
I was opposite an elderly lady with dementia, no nurses came her, so had to pad along to the nurses station to get someone to see to her but she was told to be quiet.
Morning shift took over, I heard them complain that the lady was ‘pissed up to the eyeballs’ their words.
I was disgusted.

watermeadow

My midwife daughter, who left the NHS in despair, summed it up as ‘Dire from day to day but brilliant in an emergency.’

My late DH had sepsis due to a ruptured gallbladder ( he was waiting for surgery) . After surgery he went to ITU, where he had the most superb care . After 2 weeks he was transferred to a ward still extremely ill needing a lot of nursing care . The only nursing care apart from medication and dressing changes was from me. No wash or change of bed linen , IV fluids running out and catheter bag full to bursting. No sleep at night as the ward was so noisy. The nurses seemed to spend all the time at the nurses station chatting. I was a trained nurse for 45 years and was so upset with his treatment. I complained to PALS when he was discharged but just got a response saying that the hospital was extremely busy and short staffed and they would investigate. I hadn’t the strength to continue as DH was so ill for months at home , I gave up .

I have to say I’ve been impressed with all my hospital appointments, apart from A & E. My experience was an horrible one of which last time I mentioned it on here, I was roasted.
I had horrendous pains on New Year’s Day, husband phoned an ambulance, they said it would be 1hr, then it turned into 4hrs could I get my self to A & E, I said no.
No way could I have sat on a chair for god knows how many hours vomiting.
So she phoned 111 dr & I got appointment at the 111 clinic 40 minutes later (only me there, saw a brilliant nurse practitioner) in the end the pain subsided, so went home.
Phoned my gp morning after for urgent appointment, he sent me to see gastric specialist.

I know.
I'm choosing not to.

MissAdventure

Oh, i did say he died, in my post.
Sorry you seem to be so offended about the type of patients nowadays.

I'll try to do better next time, I promise

I am sorry you had such a difficult time in the hospital- there are proper routes to go down to make your concerns known.

I did complain to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) they have the power to investigate. PALS are very sympathetic and I do think they follow up but I'm not sure the have enough impact.

The NHS is very good with acute immediate care but falls short on after care on the ward. The whole IT system is appalling so they get things completely wrong. I once had an exasperated pharmacist come to my bedside to find out the exact medications I was on. He couldn't get clear info from the IT system or staff on the ward. Nothing is joined up which should be a basic requirement. My advice is carry an up to date prescription with you at all times and know any allergies that you have. I've had discharge letters naming medication I've never heard of and never taken. Dangerous!

Thanks.
They'll probably deny me admittance at this rate.

MissAdventure

I feel very much the same, but have been reffered back there just yesterday.
Scary stuff!

Oh no! wishing you well 😘

I feel very much the same, but have been reffered back there just yesterday.
Scary stuff!

I was in that hospital for 5 days a few years ago MissA

I came out vowing never to go back…

Yep.
My mum was on a lovely ward there, where the staff were cheerful, pleasant, and honestly did everything they could do and more.
She got better, so was moved to another ward, just until a care package was agreed, and it was horrendous!!!!!

MissAdventure

Sitting at a desk, scrolling through facebook whilst some poor sod rings for a bed pan which never materialises must be quite stressful, i supose.
Honestly, that is what my stay was like.

We both know what a horror parts of that hospital is like, don’t we. 😡

The reason she knew was that her son had been in a side room there.
So on and so forth... she complained and got back a letter of apology saying they should have done better by her son.

That was it.

I went out for a coffee, and bumped into a woman i know vaguely, or rather she came over to me and said havent seen you for ages.
I told her i hadn't been well but i felt worse when they made me better, and she said it was "such and such" ward you must have been on; was it?"

So sad reading the above comments regarding such awful hospital treatment many have endured. My very elderly father was in hospital last year with pneumonia, and the treatment he received on the ward was shocking at times. I was a physiotherapist before retiring so had knowledge as to what should have been expected.
On his discharge I compiled a detailed complaint to PALS . I received a couple of calls and I no was able to vent my disgust and anger to them . They told me e verbally and in writing the steps they were going to take to rectify the issues . I do hope they do as they promise.
So please , please always complain if there is an issue , it can only help and may go towards a better NHS in the future.

I’m glad he’s home nanna8.

MissA you don’t have to justify what you have shared on here. It’s appalling.

Good to hear progress.