Been here before.....

[McMouse]

On the news this morning was a report about poor standards of care for elderly people in hospital and how some patients were dehydrated and under-nourished due to the food and water either being out of reach or they could manage on their own. When my 94 year old MIL was last in hospital Mrs McM was given a b0llocking for being by the bed-side during the 'protected meal time'. How in hell's name are vulnerable patients being denied the help that family and friends would willingly provide. Bloody bureaucrats.

[Sqad]

McM I agree, but can't say much as i will be accused of "knocking the NHS" again, but this is totally unacceptable, but has been going on for decades, but worse recently e.g Stafford Hospital.

In Spain the responsibility of the no nursing care rests mainly with the relatives and are fed by the relative..........this is accepted an as far as I know, the complaints are minimal.

Nurses are responsible for the nursing (medical) aspect of the patient, but the British public would not wear this and go to the old excuse of "cuts" again.

The NHS must change, but the politicians know that the public are reticent and suspicious of any change.

I do not know the answer.

[petal54]

too many managers,toofew auxilluary staff,thouugh when I spent 5 days confined,was still able enough to fend for myself,many,sadly,not so lucky

[daffy654]

After my operation a few years ago I wound up having to escort many of the frail and elderly ladies on my bay to the bathroom and back as the nurses were too 'busy'. I had just had major lung surgery and should not have been left to do the job the nurses were paid to do. The ward was adequately staffed but they just wanted to sit around the nurse's station chatting about the previous night's TV and Soap Operas.

[DEN53]

I remember a few years ago when my sister-in-law was in hospital, she was in a mixed ward and opposite was a poor old chap, who couldn't reach his food or beaker to drink his tea, he couldn't speak, but the sadness in his eyes said it all. I sat and fed him, but was told by a member of staff, 'he was quite capable of doing it himself' - I said 'not from where I am sitting, he is not' and carried on helping him.

There was also another incident of an elderly lady crying, I went over to see what was the matter, she was laying in a wet through bed and the dressings on her legs were hanging off - it obviously hadn't just happened, but had been like it for sometime.

I called a nurse over, who told me that didn't have time to sort her out, when clearly there were others standing at the nurses station drinking tea and eating chocs. I won't repeat what I said next, but the bed and dressings were changed immediately.

I was very popular with the patients but not the staff on that ward (:o)

[Jemisa]

Den you're a person of my own heart. When I was a patient in King Georges in Goodmays after majoe surgery and getting better I was encouraged to walk around as much as poss. There were 3 very old ladies in my ward and each of them were too frail to feed themselves, their food was put on the tray at the end of the bed, they couldn't reach it when the lady came round to clear plates etc the meals were taken away without anyone asking if they wanted them.
When I reported this I was told it would be looked into, it never was while I was there/
So the short while after that I was there I tried to help & kept an eye on them.
One old lady messed the bed, and I could hear the nurses telling her off and telling her she was a dirty lady,when I mentioned this to the nurse she said I wasn't supposed to have heard that.
I hope I die before I get old.

jem

[Old_Geezer]

When my Nan was around and in a care home, I found it difficult to recall when not to visit. Not that one was barred at any time, but it was awkward to turn up and find out it was just when they were scheduling a meal. They always seemed to be doing so when I wasn't. Didn't get to see much but I always got the impression the patients/guests were left to sort themselves out too much. Too many guests for too few staff.

[mrs.chappie]

This thread brings back memories of my poor old mum. Many times I'd go to see her and find cheese sandwiches, untouched, on her bedside table.

She didn't like cheese. I told the staff many times, but it never seemed to filter through. :o(

[askyourgran]

These are terrible stories I just hope I never end up in hospital again. When I had my hip done on my first night two of the ladies had the runs, the 4 bed ward absolutely stunk of poo. None of us could move without assistance, eventually there were two staff coming in and out to the ladies with clean sheets, water, bed pans etc. I felt so ill I wished they could have moved me somewhere - anywhere else to get away from the smell the noise and the lights going on and off all night long, the Philipino nurse was lazy and no help was forthcoming from her.

[anneasquith]

imo, basic nursing care standards have fallen drastically in the last decade,

[DEN53]

Jem - this was also in King George's Hospital (:o)