Panorama programme on NHS nurses and old folks

[shirepro]

May have missed it having been out yesteday but did anybody start a thread on the Panorama programe Wednesday night on how old folks were 'cared' for an a hospital in Sussex?

I was horified that the staff seemed to care so little. Couldn't find the time to feed an old lady who couldn't feed herself, but did find time to help themselvs to patients food and the time to eat it themselves. No time to help an old guy with a fracture be a bit more comfortable by adjusting his position, but the time to argue with him for asking for help.

The hospital manager was a disgrace, talking about 'policies', and staff 'training and development'. Some of the staff needed 'developing' with a P45.

If that had beeen one of my relatives I am not sure having see how those people were treated that I could have restrained myself.

I am niot a big fan of such programmes because I know they are carefuly edited to paint a certain picture, but even so, it made me angry.

I hope that when those staff are old someone doesn't leave them sitting dirty for hours because it was time to go home, ot leave them asking for the toilet for 2 hours

[scorp]

My mother works in a old-persons care home and often remarks on the shocking state of patients who return from NHS hospitals (being dirty, poorly addressed wounds, etc).

[bga]

My wifes grandmother spent her last few days in the Royal Sussex & was made to feel very comfortable in her last days. It is disgusting to see that standards have dropped so much in the intervening 18 months. It is not just hospitals, the standards of care in many old peoples homes verge on the inhuman.

[dave_s13]

Load of bollox isn't it ?

Bank (contract/freelance) Nurses are working in that format because the wages/flexibility are far greater than being 'on staff'. Being a contractor means your working location may change from week to week and this means there's no opportunity to build up a rapport with the patients. The job turns into just that, a job, a chore, a way to make money. That's fair enough in most industries as long as the work gets done but nursing is different and takes a lot more than that. To do it properly you genuinely have to care for the people you're looking after.

I can totally see how, given time, such an apathetic approach to the job has come about.

I think any kind of contract/bank/locum work within the NHS should be scrapped/banned completely and everyone should be on staff and paid a salary (a good and fair one). If people are happy in their work it reflects in their performance.

Of course the NHS is totally, and I mean totally ed so it will only get worse and worse until, who knows????

I must say though most hospitals are not run like that ward, which was disgusting, there are some brilliant people/places in the NHS who do a fine job. Lets just hope it doesn't spiral every downward and that becomes the norm.

That's my take on it as someone who's training to (possibly) work for the NHS and has seen a bit of what happens in these places. All just my opinion (which may be wrong).

[dave_s13]

bga said:

My wifes grandmother spent her last few days in the Royal Sussex & was made to feel very comfortable in her last days. It is disgusting to see that standards have dropped so much in the intervening 18 months. It is not just hospitals, the standards of care in many old peoples homes verge on the inhuman.

Rest homes are a different kettle of fish though, some people are making a LOT of money from those places. And they don't do it by providing a quality service.

When (if) I get to the age where I can't wipe me own bum (and no longer care) the misses is shooting me in the head (and vice versa).

[shirepro]

It made me think that if my mother ends up in one of those places I shall be there to check, or pay someone to go in and see that she has basic care. I don't leave my dogs soilded for 2 minutes let alot a parent for hours. The manager made me fume. The usual platitudes and jargon.