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Needles etc don't bother me - which is a good thing judging from my experience having some blood taken at the hospital yesterday! My number was called, I duly trotted in and was pointed at a chair (no reply to my 'good morning') and the band thing put round, arm swabbed. The chap doing it then tapped my arm and made a fist at me, so I guessed that was for me to do the same, then needle in blood out, cotton wool taped on and he gestured at the door which I took to mean I could go! All completed with no word spoken! I found that very odd, is it normal?
Sounds s
te. May I ask what nationality/race he was?
The problem with the NHS is that many who are in there are only there because they can't get a decent paying job elsewhere so rather than joining the NHS because they want to be in a caring profession, they join for career purposes. That is fine if you're a graduate with no clue about your future and pick accountancy or IT but not when you're dealing with people who are potentially suffering from distress as well as physical ailments.
te. May I ask what nationality/race he was? The problem with the NHS is that many who are in there are only there because they can't get a decent paying job elsewhere so rather than joining the NHS because they want to be in a caring profession, they join for career purposes. That is fine if you're a graduate with no clue about your future and pick accountancy or IT but not when you're dealing with people who are potentially suffering from distress as well as physical ailments.
RemainAllHoof said:
Sounds ste. May I ask what nationality/race he was?
The problem with the NHS is that many who are in there are only there because they can't get a decent paying job elsewhere so rather than joining the NHS because they want to be in a caring profession, they join for career purposes. That is fine if you're a graduate with no clue about your future and pick accountancy or IT but not when you're dealing with people who are potentially suffering from distress as well as physical ailments.
Before dragging race and nationality into this, perhaps you should questions your assumptions about what a phlebotomist does. In what way is this a 'caring profession'?te. May I ask what nationality/race he was? The problem with the NHS is that many who are in there are only there because they can't get a decent paying job elsewhere so rather than joining the NHS because they want to be in a caring profession, they join for career purposes. That is fine if you're a graduate with no clue about your future and pick accountancy or IT but not when you're dealing with people who are potentially suffering from distress as well as physical ailments.
timmybob said:
Before dragging race and nationality into this, perhaps you should questions your assumptions about what a phlebotomist does. In what way is this a 'caring profession'?
It's part of the entire organisation which should provide care and reassurance to patients who may be concerned about things like being stabbed with a needle.timmybob said:
Before dragging race and nationality into this, perhaps you should questions your assumptions about what a phlebotomist does. In what way is this a 'caring profession'?
The last government liked to refer to us as customers of the NHS, therefore this was very poor customer service IMO. Unfortunately we're not in a position to go elsewhere unless we wish to pay for this service AGAIN.Nope, my name and dob was confirmed when I first arrived and went to reception and she gave me the 'ticket'. Must say the receptionist was very nice!
Come to think of it the chap would probably not ticket the 'white british' box on the form but that didn't really occur to me until now - I doubt it had anything to do with it though? Maybe I am being unkind and he doesn't speak very good English but even then a smile wouldn't have gone amiss!
Edit to add - I was told the results could be up to two weeks. Had a phonecall from the doctor just now asking me to go in tomorrow. Oh crap, I'm going to die aren't I?
Come to think of it the chap would probably not ticket the 'white british' box on the form but that didn't really occur to me until now - I doubt it had anything to do with it though? Maybe I am being unkind and he doesn't speak very good English but even then a smile wouldn't have gone amiss!
Edit to add - I was told the results could be up to two weeks. Had a phonecall from the doctor just now asking me to go in tomorrow. Oh crap, I'm going to die aren't I?
Edited by Georgiegirl on Thursday 3rd February 14:21
RemainAllHoof said:
It's part of the entire organisation which should provide care and reassurance to patients who may be concerned about things like being stabbed with a needle.
No it isn't. Taken to the extreme, that would mean that everyone you meet in a hospital should be concerned about providing 'care and reassurance' which given the diverse roles involved in running the average hospital is naïve to say the least. With your logic, a hospital cleaner is working in 'a caring profession'. susanq said:
The last government liked to refer to us as customers of the NHS, therefore this was very poor customer service IMO. Unfortunately we're not in a position to go elsewhere unless we wish to pay for this service AGAIN.
But that's just it - no matter what people say you are not a customer in a hospital, you are a patient. You really aren't in the position to take your busines elsewhere. And being a phlebotomist can be pretty dull. Agreed name and DOB should be checked, but other than that it seems odd to start a thread about one off experience at a hospital.timmybob said:
RemainAllHoof said:
It's part of the entire organisation which should provide care and reassurance to patients who may be concerned about things like being stabbed with a needle.
No it isn't. Taken to the extreme, that would mean that everyone you meet in a hospital should be concerned about providing 'care and reassurance' which given the diverse roles involved in running the average hospital is naïve to say the least. With your logic, a hospital cleaner is working in 'a caring profession'. timmybob said:
But that's just it - no matter what people say you are not a customer in a hospital, you are a patient. You really aren't in the position to take your busines elsewhere. And being a phlebotomist can be pretty dull. Agreed name and DOB should be checked, but other than that it seems odd to start a thread about one off experience at a hospital.
Details should be checked at the point blood is taken, it would be an out of step policy that didn't require it. I would point out to people that many phlebotomists are in band 2 roles and are not 'professional' staff but 'just' trained to take blood
Edited by mph1977 on Thursday 3rd February 18:23
RemainAllHoof said:
Yes, they are, and I expect them to have a pleasant attitude towards the patients, too. Similarly, I respect the cleaners in my hospital because they do a job that is vital; I thank them for cleaning under my bed. Who else is going to clean the watery faeces off the toilet seat when someone has a digestion issue? A nurse? A consultant?
It is outside the Job descriptions of a Hospital cleaner to clean up body fluids and faecal matter, so it would fall to a Nurse to do it and often to a Registered Nurse as some HCAs have a horrid habit of disappearing when such tasks arise and others will refuse a direct instruction from an RN , a fine utilisation of 12 - 20 gbp / hour staff to save a few pence per hour on cleaner's wages (if it even puts them up a band )...timmybob said:
If you really think cleaners work in a profession, may I respectfully suggest you look up what the word means.
This is irrelevant. Caring industry, then. Edit: Ah, I see what's going on. You threw the word "profession" in putting words in my mouth ("By your logic"). Then by my logic, your logic is wrong; I maintain that cleaners work in a caring industry and did not mention "profession" and would not consider it a profession. By my logic, cleaners should have a caring attitude towards patients. Anyway, you're going off on a tangent. The key issue is how hospital workers should treat patients.
Edited by RemainAllHoof on Thursday 3rd February 19:59
mph1977 said:
It is outside the Job descriptions of a Hospital cleaner to clean up body fluids and faecal matter, so it would fall to a Nurse to do it and often to a Registered Nurse as some HCAs have a horrid habit of disappearing when such tasks arise and others will refuse a direct instruction from an RN , a fine utilisation of 12 - 20 gbp / hour staff to save a few pence per hour on cleaner's wages (if it even puts them up a band )...
I've seen a cleaner summoned and deal with the mess a patient left when I was in a ward a couple of years ago.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff