...the nurse then put a swab in her mum's mouth to clean her and shouted at Mrs Ware to stop biting.
She said the nurse even tried to get a new heart monitor for the patient because she did not think she was dead.
/facepalm
"It was a disgrace. When they realised they were all rushing about trying to work out what the time of death was.
Because the most important thing's the paperwork...
"I knew straight away she had died and I could feel how cold she was and she had black nails. I don't know how the nurse didn't."
Mrs Stutter says she has been through all the official complaints procedures but has been frustrated by a lack of cooperation from the hospital.
There's a shocker, I'm sure you'll agree...
5 comments:
It surprises me that any complaint against the NHS ever succeeds as it is my experience it rarely ever gets passed a receptionist. If it does then the complainant is fed gobbledygook, obfuscation, a closing of ranks and insurmountable uncooperative obstacles. The fact that the NHS does have to pay out large sums in compensation every year points to the fact that tenacity can have it's rewards and the NHS can often be shown up as the dysfunctional entity it is. Regrettably most of the complaints are never actually satisfactorily dealt with and if they were would point to the fact that the NHS should not be thought of as a holy cow but a very sick one and not fit for purpose.
I have seen some truly first class treatment and performance from aspects of the NHS. A&E staff and ambulance staff dealing with genuine emergencies were, when I saw them,faultless.
However, on the wards I saw a much wider range of performance. Some nurses and doctors very good, some I would have subjected to summary dismissal. Some seemed to be lazy and indifferent, some verging towards contmptuousness for patients.
The problem is that it is a public service. If you want people to value a service then make them understand that they are paying for it, and if you want staff to perform consistently well then make them understand that their job depends on satisfying the paying customers.
Too many people, on both sides seem to fail to understand that although the NHS is free at the point of use it is NOT free. Restore a link between monetary cost and service; things will improve.
James Strong
If one could choose one's doctor on the basis that they demonstrated both care and compassion, those who did not would be poor. Doctors (and other NHS staff) are promoted on the basis of loyalty to the NHS not patient, mavericks, enthusiasts, innovators either find the exit or conform out of self interest.
"Because the most important thing's the paperwork..."
Sadly, this is very true. And I can speak from first hand knowledge of this.
"It surprises me that any complaint against the NHS ever succeeds..."
Ours did. It takes perseverance and not being fobbed off.
Nowadays, of course, you can bypass the receptionist electronically.. :)
"However, on the wards I saw a much wider range of performance. "
Yes, emergency care (and some outpatient treatment) is usually first-class.
Wards, however, are variable, to say the least...
"Doctors (and other NHS staff) are promoted on the basis of loyalty to the NHS not patient..."
Sadly true.
"And I can speak from first hand knowledge of this."
As with all bureaucracies, I suspect.
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