| Non-motoring > NHS experience | Miscellaneous |
| Thread Author: Old Navy | Replies: 55 |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 15:40
NHS experience - Old Navy
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I have just left hospital after three days, should have been day surgery but it went a little pear shaped. I realise there has been some atrocious care in places, however, I was in a big new busy hospital that has taken some flak locally, (probably teething troubles and initial staff settling in). I found the staff to be brilliant, nothing too much trouble (although most of us were walking (ish) wounded. An elderly guy was moved into our day ward as a temporary measure and took up a lot of staff time, once again the staff were brilliant. The care I saw and received was excellent, and worth its weight in taxes. Last edited by: Old Navy on Thu 28 Mar 13 at 15:42
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 15:43
NHS experience - Roger.
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I have been very satisfied with both our local health centre, (superbly organised), our local hospital (Audiology) and myNHS care in Sheffield for two operations on my back. It's not ALL bad. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 15:45
NHS experience - DP
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Likewise, my experiences with the NHS have always been good. I have to leave the room when my American sister-in-law complains about it..... |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:06
NHS experience - sooty123
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>> >> I have to leave the room when my American sister-in-law complains about it..... Well she could always go private. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:19
NHS experience - Armel Coussine
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| American vox pop parrots, with the fatuous, innocent confidence of six-year-old children, the view that 'socialized medicine' is tantamount to communism and will lead directly to euthanasia for your granny whether you agree to it or not. This view is a mainstay of Republican party scare propaganda. It isn't much of a mental challenge to work out where it comes from. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:23
NHS experience - DP
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Sad thing is, she is actually a Liberal. Even many Liberals want to lynch Obama for having the sheer audacity to push universal healthcare. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:32
NHS experience - Armel Coussine
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| Yeah. But 'liberal' doesn't mean rational, well informed or even compos mentis. In US politics speak it means something like 'a bit soppy'. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 21:15
NHS experience - Roger.
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>> Yeah. But 'liberal' doesn't mean rational, well informed or even compos mentis. In US politics >> speak it means something like 'a bit soppy'. Same here, too! |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:24
NHS experience - Fenlander
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| I've had a slightly invasive one day procedure recently at a local NHS hospital and every aspect of the service was excellent from the admin to the care. However I sidestepped the GPs first choice of the nearest NHS hospital as they have "lost" rather too many folks during similar procedures! |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:47
NHS experience - Old Navy
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| I would add to my OP, It was not the surgery that went Pear shaped. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 08:23
NHS experience - L'escargot
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>> Likewise, my experiences with the NHS have always been good. Mine too. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:43
NHS experience - Pezzer
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My elderley mother has been in Hospital since the turn of the year and I'm afraid some her basic needs are being ignored - hydration and nutrition. The nurses and HCAs at times have been very stretched, but not always, and they do not seem inclined to 'waste' the time that it takes to ensure she at least gets the minimum daily requirement and to regularly and accurately chart the inputs and outputs. My other half, a former nurse, is so disgusted she is going in every day for several hours to do what she can to plug the gap. My mother would probably not be with us now but for this intervention. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 16:59
NHS experience - madf
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| North Staffs Hospital has a well deserved reputation for incompetent care , |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 18:17
NHS experience - No FM2R
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JR in Oxford almost killed my daughter and maltreated my wife 3 years apart. In both cases money was paid to us by them. If you're hit by a car in Oxford, then crawl across the country line with your last breath. OTOH, the NHS Hospital in Basingstoke gave my father excellent care [he refused to go privately, I still don't understand why]. Last edited by: No FM2R on Thu 28 Mar 13 at 18:19
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 17:09
NHS experience - Ambo
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| Top-notch GP surgery, Health Centre and General Hospital where I live. Loadsamoney neighbour goes private as she gets a private room and flowers but a) if anything serious is involved she will be sent to the GH anyway, as no private hospital can hope to match its facilities and b) the cameraderie of the ward can be very helpful during recovery. I found this after recovering from a double knee replacement (in another hospital). Examples were encouraging comments from fellow patients such as "You're walking better this morning", exchange of newspapers and magazines, and, on discharge, ward etiquette called for donation of unused credits for the TV thingy and unopened biscuits to those left behind. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 18:09
NHS experience - Dog
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| A double knee replacement, blimey! - well done you draiber. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 18:52
NHS experience - Armel Coussine
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I could gripe about the odd GP, or what I think was NHS direct the other day which booked me a phantom appointment with my own quacks when they weren't there. I could gripe about the ghastly yuppie 'managers' who have been imposed en masse on hospitals, GP practices and everything else, costing money and degrading services. But each time I have needed urgent and difficult medical intervention - twice in the last 20 years - I've shot through the system and been treated briskly and with fabulous, impressive efficiency and even style by multinational teams functioning more or less perfectly. I am a bit taken aback by FMR's post above about that Oxford hospital, John Radcliffe. I once had to wait there for hours (having been sent there from here I ask you) with a niece who had fallen off a horse, but they were obviously quite busy and the niece was only bruised really. But she was in pain and not my own nipper so I couldn't pull rank and leave. The drive there and especially back posed a far bigger risk to her physical integrity. :o} Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Thu 28 Mar 13 at 18:54
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 18:58
NHS experience - Mapmaker
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>>"My elderley mother has been in Hospital since the turn of the year and I'm afraid some her >>basic needs are being ignored - hydration and nutrition." This is where the NHS is very, very bad. Any fule can see that. (I guess there are hospitals where they're not bad at this. But I've seen it, and the NHS has a reputation for it.) The food is pretty awful too. The only time I've ever been an in-patient, I went out to a restaurant for dinner (I tried to take a pretty nurse with me too, but that wasn't happening!). |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 19:04
NHS experience - Armel Coussine
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| By the way ON, I trust the pear-shapedness has diminished a bit. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 19:41
NHS experience - Old Navy
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>> By the way ON, I trust the pear-shapedness has diminished a bit. >> Yes an odd one that happened in the right place, for me anyway. The medics think that although I did not realise it and was not showing any symptoms when I went in, I was in the early stages of Pneumonia, The drugs administered while I was under a general anaesthetic developed it rapidly. 24 hours of intravenous antibiotics and oxygen seems to have sorted it, I have another weeks oral antibiotics to take. I am certainly glad I didn't flare up over the Easter weekend, I suspect that GPs will be a bit scarce, and anyway would not have immediate access to the array of tests that were carried out on me. Last edited by: Old Navy on Thu 28 Mar 13 at 19:45
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 18:55
NHS experience - Robin O'Reliant
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During the last years of her life my elderly mum had a few months in hospital. Half way through she was transferred from the excellent Newham General Hospital to the filthy decrepit old dump in Poplar. Standards of care and hygiene were planets apart. I think it really is a postcode lottery. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 18:56
NHS experience - Aretas
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| My wife has had several nasty problems in the last few years. Cannot fault any single person we came across in the NHS, although it was obvious at times they were busy and/or stressed. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 19:43
NHS experience - No FM2R
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At the particular point that my daughter was ill, they were not that busy, just not that interested either. There was a baby opposite, quite ill, and the mother was struggling because she had two other young ones at home. So was staying as late as the neighbours could have the other children and then coming back in as early as she could int eh morning. On the second night the baby was howling the place down. Eventually I checked. Full and leaking nappy was the issue. The nurses did not do anything about it, so I changed the baby, the bed, and then repeated the process periodically over the next few days. The response from the leader of the nurses? "we're here to treat children, not care for them, that's their parents' job". Nice. And as for the treatment of my daughter? Well as I said, that cost them quite a lot in the end, bet they wish they'd just tried harder, or listened in their training. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 19:48
NHS experience - Old Navy
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>> And as for the treatment of my daughter? Well as I said, that cost them >> quite a lot in the end, bet they wish they'd just tried harder, or listened >> in their training. >> With that attitude they wouldn't give a toss, and anyway its not their money you got, it was taxpayers. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 19:52
NHS experience - No FM2R
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>>With that attitude they wouldn't give a toss I guess, one just has to hope that ultimately it came across the nose of someone who did care. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 19:53
NHS experience - Bromptonaut
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In the last year: (a) I broke my hip in a bicycle tumble in July. Initially treated as a minor injury along with snagged off finger nails but once the 'precautionary' X-Ray identified the problem I was on a ward inside an hour. Surgery the following morning and other than grumbling about a few overly brusque nurses I could not fault my treatment. (b) The Mother out Law who has fairly advanced alzheimers suffered a seizure in her care home. Admitted to hospital for observation she was treated brilliantly. HCA alongside her except when the family were present to ensure she was feeding/hydrating and not getting distressed. (c) Mrs B had a scare last month, euphemistically referred to as 'ladies troubles'. GP saw her immediately (ie within an hour) and passed to the rapid access clinic at the hospital within 10 days. In the event verdict was a non serious hormonal issue but drugs prescribed and dispensed through GP 48hrs after appointment. (d) Various other family issues from Lad's asthma/eczema to repeat medication for me, SWMBO and Miss B all dealt with efficiently. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Thu 28 Mar 13 at 19:54
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 21:22
NHS experience - Roger.
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> b) the camaraderie of the ward can be very helpful during recovery. Eeeugh - "ward camaraderie" what a horrid thought! For my two back operations last year I was "done" in a private hospital under an NHS out-source contract. Same neuro-surgeon as the NHS, but a nice private room. I cannot think of anything worse than having to endure the sniffles, snores, coughs and farts of other patients, plus their choice of TV, while trying to sleep or read. As for having to make cheerful, meaningless, conversation with other patients - no thanks! |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 22:37
NHS experience - bathtub tom
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I had a day stay for a minor op in a private hospital. After I came round from the anaesthetic and the surgeon confirmed I was OK, I was asked what I'd like to eat. I asked what was available and was told, no, what would you like. I had smoked salmon! |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 22:56
NHS experience - Ted
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SWM and I opted for the particular hospital we went to 'cos we knew it was a centre of excellence for heart problems. The whole process, from casualty right through to rehab after the bypasses was slick, friendly and efficient. The food was pretty good considering and the tea/coffee trolley made plenty of visits right up to 10pm. The staff were great, most of the nurses were young and enjoyed a bit of banter. It may have helped that one of my paramed daughter's friends was a staff nurse on the post-op ward ! The one black spot..to us...was at discharge. SWM brought a smallish suitcase on wheels for all my bits. We also had her handbag and a large bag of drugs, thrombosis socks, etc. She asked for a porter with a chair...no chance, too busy. We felt abandoned at that point. SWM was told she could get a chair at the main entrance...probably a quarter of a mile away and down two floors. She left all the bags on my bed and off she went. Came back a bit later needing a pound coin...why didn't they tell her ? Back with a chair, I sat in it holding the handbag and drugs, she tried to pull the case and push the chair with the other hand, in spite of it having a brake handle which had to be squeezed all the time. A nightmare, she's only 5'2", she doesn't have the muscle power. We got about 20ft down the corridor and I was thinking of putting the case in the chair and walking when my very nice physio nurse came towards us with a colleague, returning from lunch. She saw our problem and said to her mate ' This can't be right ' They took the chair and the case and took us to the main entrance where I sat while SWM brought the car round. Bless the pair of them ! Aftercare has been good. I have a very good GP and pharmacy 150 yds away and the health centre in the village has taken my external stitches out. So far so good. Went into the city on the tram today with only me stick for company. Had a hot chocolate and a walk round, getting the bus home. I think I overdid it...slept in the lounge later and missed Rachel on Countdown ! Ted |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 00:12
NHS experience - henry k
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Ted. Good to hear your progress. We were given the "news" a few days ago that SWMBO needs at least a new valve and maybe a bypass. Told simply that the operation (s) is the only real option. We are awaiting the next scan that will decide what is required. Can you give me any more info re your waiting times and timescales of the treatment / recovery. We have a slight advantage that daughter is a hospital doc who also knows senior people at the hospital and son is very well versed in hospitals and hospital management. I am not expecting them to spring into action but useful support for us. I am expecting a possible " discussion" re pain control and the need for full understanding else I will go to town. She has to get some dental work completed prior to any unzipping. (I had no idea how important this is) Any info will be appreciated. henry k |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 23:32
NHS experience - Ted
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>> Any info will be appreciated. >> henry k >> Henry. It will be different in my case as we went to A&E as an emergency at 3am after a few hours of pain. The time scale from there was, roughly, clotbuster straight away with painkillers and morphine drip. Then into the acute cardiac ward. 4 days later I was given an angiogram, diagnosed as needing a double by-pass and then into a more specialised pre-op ward. I'm still a bit vague but I think I was operated on on the next Wednesday, being given a triple. After a few hours in recovery and a night in ITU, I was put in a post-op cardio-thoracic ward to get me ready for discharge. That took another week with physio including using the stairs. Pain relief is good, being given codeine phosphate and 500mg paracetamol for as long as required. I've cut down a bit but still need the paras 3 or 4 times a day. It's the breastbone that hurts. Good job I'm as tough as an old dog ! ( Managed to get you a mention there, Perro ! ) I would say, If she starts to get any chest or back pain then please phone a 999 ambulance. My daughter says that's what they're there for and no paramedic minds in the least being sent out on a genuine shout. In our case, we knew the night ambulances worked a sort of rota between two major teaching hospitals within 5 miles of home.....we opted to drive ourselves to the one that does heart transplants. Hope all turns out well, H. Ted Last edited by: Ted on Fri 29 Mar 13 at 23:37
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New Sat 30 Mar 13 00:22
NHS experience - henry k
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Ted - Many thanks. all useful info. The need for an operation has been identified after many tests for tiredness. SWMBO has had a murmur for years but it has now it has got worse Awaiting an angiogram, the results will determine if its just a new valve or more. Pain relief is a major concern as has a very very low pain threshold. Pills are no use it will be a morphine drip. Last year I had to bed watch in a private hospital for a couple of days to ensure she stayed in bed ( new knee) while " away with the fairies " and talking total rubbish. Even a BP cuff is painful so we have a wrist version. I know the bruising will be horrific. She has a significant bruise from the cardiologist just holding her arm. The op will be at St Georges teaching hospital near Wimbledon. Our local Kingston hospital is not geared up for it. At present I am not anticipating 999 but think I might opt to drive especially during the night. |
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New Sat 30 Mar 13 06:44
NHS experience - swiss tony
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>> The op will be at St Georges teaching hospital near Wimbledon. Our local Kingston hospital is not geared up for it. At present I am not anticipating 999 but think I might opt to drive especially during the night. >> >> Before you do, make sure they will admit her there from your car - unlike our cardiac unit..... tinyurl.com/c36ptjp |
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New Sat 30 Mar 13 08:05
NHS experience - Dog
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>>Good job I'm as tough as an old dog ! ( Managed to get you a mention there, Perro ! ) |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 23:03
NHS experience - Alastairw
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| My mother told me that the best thing to do, when you have experienced good service from the NHS, is drop a short letter to the chief exec. Praise where praise is due and all that. |
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New Thu 28 Mar 13 23:36
NHS experience - Lygonos
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Good managers largely ignore the praise (other than to feed it downwards). Should be actively out there looking for the snags and criticisms. Problem is it's too easy in a highly target driven culture to sit around the rosy glow of the target fire and ignore the state of the campsite, while patting each other on the back. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians = crappy healthcare. Unfortunately many chiefs were crap when they were Indians, hence their desire to be chiefs in the first place... Last edited by: Lygonos on Thu 28 Mar 13 at 23:36
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 00:27
NHS experience - zippy
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Glad it all went well Ted. I think the NHS is a something we would regret losing. I friend was taken ill whilst on holiday in the USA in February. He was in hospital there for 5 days but no operation was needed. The total bill was $65,000. Lucky holiday insurance paid, but what happens to those that cannot afford insurance? |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 08:56
NHS experience - Old Navy
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>> I friend was taken ill whilst on holiday in the USA in February. He was >> in hospital there for 5 days but no operation was needed. The total bill was >> $65,000. Lucky holiday insurance paid, but what happens to those that cannot afford insurance? >> >> When we lived in Australia a work colleague of my wife and in her 20s had Asthma. She could not get insurance to cover her medical costs, and eventually died. We believe that she was not getting adequate care and treatment, whether she would have died anyway we do not know but............... |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 10:32
NHS experience - zippy
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>>>When we lived in Australia a work colleague of my wife and in her 20s had Asthma. She could not get insurance to cover her medical costs, and eventually died. We believe that she was not getting adequate care and treatment, whether she would have died anyway we do not know but. Exactly why I defend the NHS. I have private insurance through work and through a friendly society that I subscribe to but I have no problem in paying for the NHS as well! I have had cause to use the local A&E department twice in the last year and both times I was treated very well, with professionalism, humor and compassion. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 11:28
NHS experience - Dutchie
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Difficult to criticize the NHS.But what has happened in Staffordshire is unforgivable.Over a thousand people where affected by no care.It is always easy to blame the nursing staff but the orders came from the top target based. My experience with the NHS has been good,but like somebody said on here it can be a lottery. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 13:47
NHS experience - Meldrew
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I have had two outpatient cancer checks, good outcomes and seen on time, efficient and polite staff, even when putting the camera where the sun is a stranger! Results with my GP within 7 days. Limited experience but pleased with the service. I worked 5 years for the NHS, close to the front-line, staff did their level best but were overwhelmed with paperwork. In a Ward of 10 elderly people, each one had to have what they ate and how much, recorded (fair enough) and also had to have what they were doing logged, every 15 minutes 24/7. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 18:06
NHS experience - Dutchie
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I've got two checks coming up one next week camara down my gullet and a scan a week later for cancer checks Meldrew.Nearly three and a halve years now after the operation for Esophegeal cancer. Like I said I can't complain they have up to now taking good care of me.But it was one of the male nurses who send me for a check on my right leg suspecting thrombosis.I mentioned the pain to the oncologist a week earlier and he didn't take any notice. They found a lump and I had to give myself injections for six months which was fine by me. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 18:12
NHS experience - Manatee
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I posted our last experience of the NHS here www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?t=9377&m=212458&v=e The GP came out of it very well, the hospital very much less so. I wouldn't want anybody ill, old, or vulnerable to go there without an advocate. It's not new. In 1993 my uncle, then 64, had a stroke and was carted off to Staincliffe hospital in Dewsbury. Speech, and movement on one side of his body badly affected. He was put on a geriatric ward as that was the only one with a bed. My aunt spent the whole of visiting hours at the hospital. He couldn't/wouldn't eat and after 2 or 3 days was becoming very weak. My aunt had been with him most of the day, waiting for a doctor that she had been told would be coming to examine him. At 6pm, my aunt enquired as to when the doctor might come as she was increasingly concerned. She was told it would be the next day because they had all gone home. Aunt announced that she was not leaving until a doctor examined uncle. One was found, and within 5 minutes had determined that uncle had a painful oral thrush infection that accounted for the inability to eat. Doctor expressed the view that this should not have happened and apologised profusely. The problem was very easy to deal with once identified. Uncle resumed eating the next day. He eventually made a good recovery and is still with us I am happy to say, but my aunt is convinced that left to their own devices Staincliffe hospital would have finished him off. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 18:41
NHS experience - Dutchie
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Family has to be involved if possible you have to protect your family.We had a few incidents in Holland with my mother when we had to step in to help her.It can happen anywhere not only in the UK.Unfortunately in the medical world mistakes or neglect can cost lives. Doctors and nursing staff shouldn't have to be scared to speak up if the system is failing . |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 18:51
NHS experience - sherlock47
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>>At 6pm, my aunt enquired as to when the doctor might come as she was increasingly concerned. She was told it would be the next day because they had all gone home.<< If it had been in the private sector they would have gone to play golf long before that! I have a friend whose wife is a consultant and she will not allow husband to go into the provincial private (albeit relatively small, but well known) hospital for anything more invasive than toe nail cutting! |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 19:39
NHS experience - R.P.
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| I think last week summed it all up nicely. A publicly funded organisation charged with the health and well-being of the public - that has to be forced by law to tell the truth and teach it's staff to actually care for people. You honestly couldn't make it up ! |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 20:11
NHS experience - Armel Coussine
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There may be intractable problems in bits of the NHS. But most of us can only judge by experiential, anecdotal evidence. It strikes me that many of the horror stories here and elsewhere involve very frail, usually old patients, perhaps frightened and intimidated by strange surroundings, perhaps inclined by nature to hold back on information, perhaps unable to formulate information, with families whose nearest members are distracted by other demands on their time. One wouldn't want to exaggerate this, but it seems to be a good idea to tell the hospital quacks as quickly as possible what seems to be the matter. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 21:28
NHS experience - Dutchie
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Maybe old patients in some cases are better off having home care.I suppose it is down to cost and who is available to help.No good having a hospital with to many patients and staff can't cope. Les managers and more frontline staff I'm thinking. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 21:50
NHS experience - Westpig
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>> Less managers and more front line staff I'm thinking. >> That would be my take as well. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 22:16
NHS experience - Robin O'Reliant
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>> >> Less managers and more front line staff I'm thinking. >> >> >> >> That would be my take as well. >> Public Sector Rule No 1 - Only front line staff numbers are ever reduced. Pen pushers and clock watchers have jobs for life. Last edited by: Robin Regal on Fri 29 Mar 13 at 22:17
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 22:51
NHS experience - bathtub tom
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After my recent hospital stay I was called by the 'customer satisfaction team' to answer a survey. They obviously had a form to complete with tick boxes except for the final question: do I have any suggestions for improvements. My reply, 'stop wasting money on stupid surveys'. They had a large, glass-fronted office in a new building at the front of the hospital. |
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 23:22
NHS experience - Armel Coussine
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>> Les managers and more frontline staff I'm thinking. Yes Dutchie, everyone thinks that, less faff and bureaucracy, more hands-on medical efficiency. But there's a sort of suggested pattern to these random neglect stories, and it seems to have to do with lack of communication. Perhaps the managers, who tend to be coarse, ignorant and rude, put timid, ill patients off in a big way. I know from experience that there are people who when stressed, or even when they aren't, seem unable to articulate the simplest thing. Either they are simply dumb or they have got used to being dissed and ignored and misunderstood, and have decided least said, soonest mended. As I said, one doesn't want to exaggerate. But it seems to me there's some factor of that sort that runs through these stories. What's easy for me - indeed God help the quack who tries any flimflam with me - may well seem impossible to some people. Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Fri 29 Mar 13 at 23:24
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New Fri 29 Mar 13 23:42
NHS experience - Dutchie
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I see your point A.C I'm no Einstein but some people have that vacant look like they are on a different planet.Trouble with communication or education I don't know.Sad state of affairs do. You are a one off A.C.>;) |
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New Sat 30 Mar 13 01:55
NHS experience - Fullchat
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My elderly mother had three back to back stays of around a month each last year for her numerous complaints. She is back again in a ward of geriatrics having had a fall and then diagnosed with a urine infection. Not a good place to be. We are now sorting out some respite care with a view to full time residency. She has been very resistive and despite 4 visits by Carers at home per day this is not enough for her diminishing health and lack of mobility. She is normally pretty savvy with the odd bout of confusion but when I visited tonight she was on a different planet, much of the conversation relating to things and places in her past which was where she thought she was. I'm suspecting dehydration issues. She is just one of many patients who seem to receive the minimum of care which only provides for their basic needs. Staff do their best to avoid eye contact with visitors apparently not to be imposed upon. Will speak to staff tomorrow to air my concerns. But I'm sure there is no monitoring of food and liquid consumption. |
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New Sat 30 Mar 13 09:38
NHS experience - Pezzer
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Fullchat, this is almost an exact copy of my mother's situation. The urine infections keep repeating leading to more and more antibiotics which have then led to a very nasty C Diff' infection (extreme diarrhoea) which has all but done for her. Communication was mentioned above and I completely agree with this, the communication betweeen Doctors and Nurses on many occasions has been non-existent, with us having to tell the nurses in charge what the Consultant had decided several days later. Also our ability to cut through the bureacracy to talk to the Doctors treating my mother has to say the least been frustrating (that said once contact is made the exchanges have been positive and worthwhile). Luckily my wife was a nurse so knows how these places work, but when you are a layman hospitals are such an alien environment and you trust that everything is being done as it should be especially when the patient is incapable of speaking up for themself, sadly this is not true in our case so if you have concerns I urge you to voice them. All the best. |
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New Sat 30 Mar 13 10:07
NHS experience - Old Navy
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I worked for ten years with adults with mild to moderate learning difficulties amongst other disabilities often in a working environment. Many of them, and certainly not exclusively them, would be terrified of "managers", or sometimes even someone wearing a tie, and would visibly shake. Hospital staff have to deal with people ranging from frightened people often totally lacking in self confidence to the pushy pain in the backside who think the most minor problem has absolute priority. I think we are a vaguely eloquent bunch with the confidence to communicate our opinions at any level, (OK anonymously here), but there are very many who don't have that ability. This can be compounded by the poor communication in some hospitals. Last edited by: VxFan on Sun 31 Mar 13 at 02:30
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