This mornings news that patients are 10% more likely to die at a weekend in an NHS hospital came as no surprise to me.
Last week a close elderly relative was admitted as an emergency to a large acute hospital. On Friday morning I found her in a six bed bay with five men. I complained.
On Saturday morning I found her in a for bedded bay for women, but it was only intended to hold four. Her bed had been squeezed in between two other beds. There were issues about privacy as the curtains obviously didn't go round the beds. There were also issues about nursing care. The nurse told me that "all" my relative had to do was to press the buzzer if she needed anything. There was no buzzer for patients five and six in a four bedded bay.
I wanted to take the opportunity to get an update on my relative's medical condition. I eventually found a very tired looking 25 year old who was midway through a 12 hour shift. He hadn't seen my relative and explained that he was solely responsible for 250 patients.
So I had to complain all over again and ask the matron to find another bed, which she did. But when worried about an elderly relative who has had a nasty turn I'm not really in the right frame of mind to have to complain simply to protect dignity and ensure nursing care. This morning I'm going on another round trip of 70 miles as much to check-up on care as to comfort and support my relative.
After this episode is over I may make a formal complaint.
Last week a close elderly relative was admitted as an emergency to a large acute hospital. On Friday morning I found her in a six bed bay with five men. I complained.
On Saturday morning I found her in a for bedded bay for women, but it was only intended to hold four. Her bed had been squeezed in between two other beds. There were issues about privacy as the curtains obviously didn't go round the beds. There were also issues about nursing care. The nurse told me that "all" my relative had to do was to press the buzzer if she needed anything. There was no buzzer for patients five and six in a four bedded bay.
I wanted to take the opportunity to get an update on my relative's medical condition. I eventually found a very tired looking 25 year old who was midway through a 12 hour shift. He hadn't seen my relative and explained that he was solely responsible for 250 patients.
So I had to complain all over again and ask the matron to find another bed, which she did. But when worried about an elderly relative who has had a nasty turn I'm not really in the right frame of mind to have to complain simply to protect dignity and ensure nursing care. This morning I'm going on another round trip of 70 miles as much to check-up on care as to comfort and support my relative.
After this episode is over I may make a formal complaint.
