NHS gets worse!

[rebbonk]

Last night my son called NHS direct. This was about 8.00.

The telephonist couldn't help him, so suggested he could either go to a "drop-in" centre or she could get a nurse to call him. He opted to speak to a nurse and was advised that there was a 16 hour wait! As you can understand he declined this offer.

Ringing the "drop-in" centre he was told "We are 'rammed' and not letting any more in here!"

At this point his sister rang his own doctor. "We are closed, please contact NHS direct, blah blah blah..." Perfect circle!

I told him to go to A&E; he wouldn't as he said it wasn't either an accident or emergency. He ended up at a late night chemist being talked into buying Ibruprofen.

Camoron reckoned that the NHS was safe in his hands, it doesn't look so safe to me.

[Gladys]

OMG- this is entirely due to Government ' planning '. NHS Direct don't have many nurses that is probably why the 16 hour call back was given. Seriously worrying and I would say he should make a complaint to his MP, The Community Health trust and to his GP.

[rebbonk]

I will pass that on Gladys. - Thanks :)

[Gladys]

Rebbonk and any one else,you may find these links useful reading. I hope they work still. I got them from the mail online.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2300613/Doctors-Halt-NHS-hotline--days-launch-new-phone-service-BMA-makes-minute-plea-prevent-chaos-costing-patients-lives.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298599/New-NHS-phoneline-lives-risk-Doctors-warning-111-number-goes-meltdown.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2301652/Doctors-fear-lives-risk-revealed-staff-new-NHS-hotline-half-training.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302146/111-NHS-Service-Girl-potentially-fatal-appendicitis-died-doctor-failed-parents-back.html

[rebbonk]

Thanks again Gladys.

He wrote a rather stiff letter to his MP yesterday, but I doubt it'll have much impact unless the MPs are overwhelmed with complaints. Of course, few people actually bother to complain, they just grumble and then accept things. If he gets a reply, I'll let you know.

[Gladys]

I'd like to think he will get a reply but in the end its the quality of it that counts. This is a very contentious issue right across the UK and The Government is trying to keep its head down about it as such its a 'hot potato' . Do let me know and tell your son to copy his letter to both his GP and to the Community Health Trust- just Cc them into it even after the event.

[cathidaw]

two years ago. boxing day I dislocated my shoulder.I went to Banbury hospital . it was packed out. I registered and waited 2 hourS. The triage nurse came and said I need an xray but the wait was 3 hours- if I was lucky.Then the doctor was going to be 2 -3 hours -if I was lucky. Thats what she said to everyone.If you are lucky. Some people were bleeding all around me.
No tea machine, only coke , which ran out. My Daughter -'we'll go to OXFORD'-She knew someone -a doctor.who worked there.who was off duty.She arranged for a referal letter to be waiting for when I got there. There were 4 people waiting - they'd been there for 2 hours.. no doctors about.
I was ushered into another dept. 3 doctors in there.. -xray anaesthetic to put it back. Within one hour I was on my way back. £500 lighter and then the fee for the letter. I borrowed money on the day,paid it back-my council tax money.
Just shows how the rich can get away with it.
i wrote to Banbury and they denied that it was crowded and the waiting was so long. Wrote to the MP but the hospital lied.Altho' they admitted the drinks had run out.

What a set up and it will get worse.

[Gladys]

Cathidaw, This was absolutely dreadful for you and poses a terrifying picture of what we now can face. Yes, I fear it is going to be a common place theme with our hospitals and healthcare. Its a simple equation between supply and demand that has seen the balance tipped. There' s not enough resources as in staff to supply to provided effective safe care for the growing demand in the population we have today. Don't forget the last 7 years has seen a mass influx of people into the UK which has in itself added to that demand. On the flip side of that increase the supply of trained staff has been actively reduced so we no longer have the numbers we did doing the jobs we had. The common complaint is also that those doing the work lack the experience and knowledge. Mid Staffs comes to mind as an example but its a simplistic example. (The Royal College of Nurses in the ' RCN Bulletin ' November 2011 issue reported that there were 56000 nurses unemployed. Many were highly experienced, knowledgeable people. I don't know what proportion of them were trained and what number were health care support working level nurses but it tells a tale anyway.Why were they unemployed? I suggest you ask Mr Cameron- he may know but I doubt he'll answer.))

[cathidaw]

How can a nurse be suitably trained at university.Half days in hospitals is not enough. I trained at the hospital doing the job, with lectures fitted in between. The trainees were 'nurses form the 3rd month, albeit juniors. We learnt how to handle people who were sick.learned from the bottom.One does not have to be university fodder to be a nurse.There would be hundreds of nurses if we went back to training on the wards.people want to 'nurse from the start. This have to have a degree idea will not work to get more recruits.It didn't cost so much either..ok we moaned at the money but we had the best training in the world and a qualification free of charge.This armchair nursing wont work. I saw the other day --nurses are going to be shown how to make beds and give bedpans.I learned that the first week.
ON THE OTHE HAND-There is light.2 years ago tomorrow I had an ankle joint replacement at Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic hospital. It was an eye opener My 6 days in there were just like old times. Nothing was too much trouble. I was offered toast at midnight from the ward kitchen the day I missed my dinner.transport was arranged for my subsequent visits..for a year.
I am to have the other one done this year-at my convenience.The hospitals here were not interested except to provide me with more and stronger painkillers.
There must be other hospitals like that one.

[Gladys]

Cathidaw, your training was like mine and your experience at The Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is uplifting and I hope is still the same today as it was 2 years ago. I am all for upgrading the Professional status of Nursing and Midwifery in recognition of what it deserves but not at the expense of the standards of care that it should provide. I think this is what has happened. Having standards of care at the caring level which is at the bedside in which lies a patient aka a feeling living human being. We are all living feeling human beings and as such are all able to become patients let us not forget that. Ill health can strike us all at any time. Then the patient being in varying guises of ill health leaving him or her dependent on the professional training of a qualified individual able to recognise what is needed, who is able and willing to deliver the things that matter to aid healing or better the quality of life. Learning about health and then meeting ill health in a book and class room scenario doesn't draw out the real vocational empathetic side of the role of the professional nurse. To people delivering care of the standard that is safe, effective and satisfying for these reasons is why people used to stay in nursing but now they are faced with increased pressure of targets to meet and achieve with little to do with the quality of the patient's experience. and more importantly less about the comfort in that caring act and the relationship at the time of the care being given. These things are part of the standards of professional nursing care and are what matters. Anyone can call them selves a nurse and many do but how many are trained to standards that encompass all of these things with the intelligence to improve the standards when needed? I could go on and on and on..... (I will spare you that but I think you get the gist.)

[Gladys]

Have you heard what The Government have decided must be built into Nurse Training? CARING:yippee::confused: Er, excuse me but if the Government would get its nose out of matters best left to the Professionals who are in these Professions we might not have the rubbish we are dealing with now. Nurses were nurses and chosen to be trained as such because they demonstrated caring from the start. You either did work as a carer prior to getting into training and had a strong reference list supporting your ability to be caring or you interviewed in such a way you showed it then.Of course you also had to show you had achieved an academic level as well but that was less important than demonstrating the caring ability. Those less academic often became the foundation rocks of the profession as Enrolled Nurses who are now a defunct breed. They backed up the Registered Nurses, dished out good old fashioned basic nursing care and helped monitor and train the students and Health Care Assistants who used to be known as Auxillaries. Everyone cared and if they didn't they were weeded out at the start of training. They usually showed them selves up any way and were spotted a mile off at which point they failed in objectives that had to be met in order to progress through training. It should be the same now. Choose a potential candidate because they show they can care and do it well- monitor them through every stage of the training and if they fail- show them the door - End of story, its simple really. We don't need a Government telling us things that should be set in stone.

[cathidaw]

I thought caring was part of the job training process..
As I said before, we can do without university trained armchair nurses.
Pitching in at the deep end is the only way to learn.

[Shizara]

Starting in at the deep end is the best way to learn. Dare I say "Bring back the scary matron!!" ?

[Gladys]

They duped the public on that one as well. They brought in a truck load of posts called ' Matron of ..' this and of that department. What has it done? Zilch. The old structure was that a Hospital was run by Consultants and a team of administrators who ran the Hospitals as their Consultants deemed fit. The Matron was in Charge of Nursing care and of Nurses. She stood along side the Senior Consultant and more often than not it was done her way not his. (Very Carry on Matron ....) This won't happen now because Hospitals are run by administrators, Consultants don't have a say in things other than what their Department Budget will be spent on. Nurses are managed by administrators too. The Director of Nursing is more involved with Nursing Budgets rather then with Nurses and Nursing Care. The Matrons are slot in posts as so called heads of nursing by departments.( Cardiology, Eyes, A&E ) They are meant to be all about nursing care and nursing standards but it does seem in reality the accountability element of the role of the Professional Nurse has been lost somewhere in all of the paperwork.

[Gladys]

Rebbonk, Has your son had a reply from his letters? I have been tuned into the news from last night about how dreadful the 111 Service performance is. A very few people have had positive experience from it most have had shambolic experiences. The NHS Direct derelict and defunct organisation only holds 3 areas across the UK now and one is in the Midlands- Birmingham etc. This service is at the centre of investigations into incidents one of which is a death. There are countless terrifying stories of near misses. NHS Direct had teething troubles in the early days but not like this. Back then the public didn't quite know what to make of it nor quite how to use it but they soon learned and so did NHS Direct. It was embraced by the public who have once again been duped. It began to demise as it was run down and now the remaining staff are fewer nurses who are mostly less experienced, less knowledgeable and cheaper than those who staffed it before the run down. The 111 service is staffed by similar level nurses but by design many more untrained personnel. Nurses and Midwives by the Professional code of Conduct are amongst other things ACCOUNTABLE for their actions, untrained personnel are not. Is this another design and as such a design fault? The 111 Service has to get its teething troubles sorted out but is it too late as lives have been lost from the appalling lack of professional EXPERTISE and lack of accountability? It would seem there are too few teeth to grip hold of what has become an institution that is now falling apart; The NHS. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319198/As-crisis-NHS-111-helpline-deepens--A-amp-E-chiefs-fear-bank-holiday-meltdown.html

[rebbonk]

Rebbonk, Has your son had a reply from his letters?

Not that I'm aware of. I'll make a point of asking when I next see him.

[Gladys]

Well, I think if he hasn't had a reply from any of them- that spells it all out. Have you been watching the news?

[rebbonk]

I have Gladys. It doesn't bode well at all

[Gladys]

Indeed it doesn't. I heard one Doctor who was being interviewed about his fears for safety last night say that NHS Derelict used to have 1 nurse to every 2 call handling personnel. This 111 service is using 1 nurse to 10 call handling personnel. He didn't expand on how other dilution in the elements of care delivery might be affecting the public. From this I mean how they decide who to put a caller through to a nurse and who to make a medical decision on on receipt of the call to a call handler. It would seem these call handlers are the ones who are sending out ambulances as 999s and people to A&E for sore throats and coughs. The nurses are mainly less experienced ones too. Very worrying for them as professionals and more so for the public.
These situations are tragic. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319471/It-just-awful-absolutely-awful-Heartbroken-wife-man-died-cancer-tells-painful-moments-NHS-111-helpline-service-failed-her.html and the fllowing one touches on what I have said.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319643/Paramedics-Patients-killed-shortage-ambulances-long-delays.html

[rebbonk]

From today's local rag...

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7004/coventryuniversityhospi.png

Source : Coventry Telegraph (http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-university-hospital-ae-waiting-3573582)

[Gladys]

The Labour Minister's quote on NHS Staffing and Nurse shortages ' staffing shortages had seen 4,500 nurses lost to the NHS since May 2010 ' doesn't account for the other 51500 Nurses that the RCN have on file as unemployed in November 2011. This morning on the News it seems they are arguing about who is responsible for adequate staffing. The Government saying Hospitals should be ensuring they have enough Nurses/ Staff but Hospitals are saying the Government is responsible for making sure the jobs are there to fill.In reality, the jobs are there, they always have been and even more so as we have an increase in population and need. The money to pay the staff, to buy and run the equipment is the issue- where is that? The answer in a pot shot is not and the individual Hospital Trusts are relying on privatised enterprise to raise it.

[Gladys]

The RCN are worrying about 2015 when the shortfall in staffing will be a real crisis. (See RCN Bulletin for July 2013) I looked at what has been going on with the 111 Service verses NHS Direct nightmare this morning. In the last week NHS Direct pulled out of 2 of the only 11 contracts it holds for the 111 Service as it was financially unsustainable. (There are 46 sites across the UK) This is discussed in the Health Service Journal this week.
On a better note, I had the sutures removed on Tuesday. The nurse has left one suture incompletely removed which at first wasn't clear because the area was black/blue. That one really hurt as she tried to pull it out. Today I can clearly see a blue thread! The hand is feeling better. None of that terrible pain which was like when you hit your funny bone. So other than my middle finger which doesn't have full feeling, time will tell. I have exercises to do so we'll see if things improve. Its early days.

[Lex]

Glad you're on the road to recovery Gladys! Hope you're completely on the mend soon.

[Gladys]

Thanks Lex, I am sure I am and will be.

[Gladys]

Its all just a matter of time before the implosion of the whole NHS. Have you heard today that NHS Direct ( aka NHS Derelict and defunct) has announced it is pulling out of all of the 111 Service contracts. They hold 40% of the 46 contracts. What next? The framework of the NHS is now crumbling from outside in.

[cathidaw]

Three weeks ago I spent a week in Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic having a new ankle joint.Apart from the hi-tech aspect my stay was like the old days.
Nothing was too much trouble even tho' low staffed at weekends. One lady admitted at 6pm Sunday had missed dinner . A nurse made toast ans tea at 9pm for her.3 hours later but she hadn't forgotten.
Being a specialist hospital makes a difference I know but it seems to be 'managed' well.

[Gladys]

Cathidaw, I am so pleased you've ' been done ' and hope it all heals well and is as good as the other replacement before? Its good to know when you really need it, it actually works. I know when acute things happen it does. (From my experience anyway.) However, it doesn't seem to be working in the outer fringes. I really hope it improves.

[cathidaw]

Thanks for your kind wishes.3 more weeks and I may be able to walk with the aid of a pneumatic boot. But I cannot drive 'til end December
What was wrong with your hand Gladys -I seem to have missed something.and where did you have it treated?.

[Gladys]

Cathidaw, what a lengthy process to get you up and running again. I feel for you. I had the right Carpel Tunnel done in September last year except it was worse than before they did it. I was having shocks through it exactly like when you hit your funny bone which isn't funny at all and the numbness was there in the middle and 3rd fingers so I had it done again in June. I haven't got any of that now but my middle finger still doesn't have full sensation. Its better but not complete with reduced dexterity and weakness. Its a time thing now. They say that the median nerve was compressed badly and for along time so the sensation may never be perfect.We'll see.

[Gladys]

Hi All, I am wondering if this latest arrival is going National? The Postman just brought a letter with an ' Opt Out' form attached to it for my agreement or otherwise. I don't have to do anything as within 12 weeks if I don't ' Opt Out' My records automatically get added to the database. I've ' Opted Out' as I am fed up with this entire system becoming more and more like a communist regime where everyone and anyone will be able to access ( and mess around with ) my records. See www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk. Have you been sent these?

[rebbonk]

I think Mrs Rebbonk had one a while back (I haven't had one yet) and opted to stay out. Her reasons were quite simple, the doctor and his assistants had already made enough of a mess of her records that she wasn't prepared to let anyone else have access.

I can't remember if I've told you, but according to her own GPs records she's been incorrectly recorded as having had a hysterectomy, suffering from high blood pressure and a host of other minor irregularities. It took an age to get these corrected!

[Gladys]

Yes, Rebonnk, this is why I have ' opted out.' I just saw it on the BBC News. They are ' rewarding ' Hospital Trusts that have managed their budgets well and in addition because A&E services are in crisis they are wanting access to patients' records made easier because access to them is through GP surgeries. Most often when access is required ie Out of Hours the surgeries are closed. In principal its a good idea but in reality it is another minefield of data the protection of which is just too flimsy.

[Gladys]

The shortage of Midwives has been broadcast today as another crisis for the NHS. I trained and qualified as one such professional in 1993. On completion of our training which saw 12 newly qualified, fresh and excited new Midwives our hospital became an NHS Hospital Trust. It declined to employ the entire lot at their training pay scale of a top E grade. Instead they offered us 3 month temporary contracts at bottom D.( Starting pay for newly qualified nurses) Then Newly qualified Midwives started on bottom F or should have done. As a result and with no surprise they lost the whole lot who returned to general nursing on their E grade pay scales. I was the only one offered my E grade with work on the Midwifery bank. The bank work dried up and I became another statistic. Why would anyone want to join that brigade when they are so poorly treated and under valued?

[Gladys]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2514107/Ban-smoking-grounds-hospitals-urged.html Drs and Nurses have enough to do already. This just takes the biscuit.

[Gladys]

This situation just isn't getting any better. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2597558/Overworked-doctors-forced-look-70-elderly-patients-single-shift-missing-vital-signs-illness.html

' Under Doctored, Under Nursed....' Why, after all the Government said it was doing but what has it done? Not a lot it would seem. I know of a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who is so demoralised he loathes the job he loved to do because he simply can't do it as his standards would want. He can not use the hip prosthesis he knows will wear, work and perform better because the procurement process is now not down to him but to some pen pusher who bought a cheap job lot and has dictated they must be used up. His salary ( like all NHS Medical and Nursing salaries) has been halved and his team cut back to the point they are working at three times the pace with a skeletal work force to cover the increase in work load. I wonder if Mr C really knows these very real facts at grass roots level. I don't think so.

This takes the biscuit as well- it certainly isn't news- its been happening for at least 20 years since I think, the Blair regime allowed free use of agency staff to cover NHS shortages. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2597442/Hospital-pays-1-800-agency-nurse-work-single-shift-thats-163-hour.html

[rebbonk]

Mrs Rebbonk has had trouble getting one of her prescription drugs for the last couple of months, and has been issued with shortages slips on each visit. Today, the chemist has finally admited that he can't get them any more. (not sure why, but I'll guess it's down to cost!)

So Mrs Rebbonk walked next door to the doctor to ask for an appointment to seek an alternative drug. The receptionist said that there were no appointments available until July. Mrs Rebbonk explained that she could no longer get her drugs and needed a replacement, PDQ; the recptionist miraculously found a slot tomorrow afternoon at 4.00!

[rebbonk]

Mrs Rebbonk has just returned from the Doctors. He says that the drugs are still available and that she ought use another pharmacy!

Flabergasted!

[Lex]

I tend to use my local co-op pharmacy; they seem to have some idea of how to do their job, as opposed to some major high street retailers.

[rebbonk]

Oh dear, Mrs Rebbonk has just returned from the Ricoh arena where she asked two more pharmacists (Tesco and Boots). Both have told her the drug is no longer available.

Mrs Rebbonk looked a funny colour as she went out of the door to see her doctor....

[Gladys]

This is all down to inexperienced, young GPs and chemists. (Actually, that is all Professions and Trades- nurses especially)The training for all has been diluted.. My neighbor had the same problem over the last two days. Her two little foster children have developed eye infections(recycled no doubt between the two) She took them to the pharmacy and was told by the trained chemist this was due to Hey Fever so just do the cool boiled water eye wash thing. That was yesterday. When she showed me , it was obvious they had eye infections and chloramphenicol drops were in order. I suggested she got some Brolene drops in the interim until an appointment could be obtained from the surgery but again(different chemist, different shop) said no, just do eye washes. This morning, worse and very uncomfortable with copious amounts of green goo from both girls' eyes, her GP prescribed drops. She went to the pharmacy- they can't get them, There was a lot of ' umming ' and ' Ahhring ' about age appropriate meds as these weren't appropriate for them at 6 and 4 so she went back to the GP, waited etc, Chloramphenicol drops prescribed. Hopefully, she's been able to administer them and the infections will now become gone. I rest my case.

[rebbonk]

Took a call from the doctors' this morning, the drug is no longer available!

Mrs Rebbonk has an appointment scheduled for Tuesday morning, I would love to be a fly on the wall... She'll be crabbier than hell as she doesn't like to rise before midday! Good luck to the Doc'!

[rebbonk]

Yesterday Mrs R dropped in to the chemist to collect her monthly prescription. They admitted making it up, but couldn't find it and asked her to return later.

Sadly, that wasn't possible so she returned today.

The chemist had needed to make up another prescription, but couldn't provide the necessary slip for Mrs R to request her next batch of drugs. She was left to approach the doctor and request a replacement.

This is simply not good enough! The incompetency of this chemist (it's not the first time) is unbelievable, and when it goes wrong the customer is put out and left to sort out the problems for themselves. At £8 per item, the NHS is now £16 directly out of pocket, plus quite a bit more for repeating activities that hadn't ought be necessary.

I have no reason to think this chemist is any different to any other, so multiply this up over the country and you start to see where some of the NHS budget is going!

The other shock this little episode brought home to me was that the chemist has no process in place to show that anyone has collected their drugs.

All in all, a very poor show.

[cathidaw]

Yesterday Mrs R dropped in to the chemist to collect her monthly prescription. They admitted making it up, but couldn't find it and asked her to return later.

Sadly, that wasn't possible so she returned today.

The chemist had needed to make up another prescription, but couldn't provide the necessary slip for Mrs R to request her next batch of drugs. She was left to approach the doctor and request a replacement.

This is simply not good enough! The incompetency of this chemist (it's not the first time) is unbelievable, and when it goes wrong the customer is put out and left to sort out the problems for themselves. At £8 per item, the NHS is now £16 directly out of pocket, plus quite a bit more for repeating activities that hadn't ought be necessary.

I have no reason to think this chemist is any different to any other, so multiply this up over the country and you start to see where some of the NHS budget is going!

The other shock this little episode brought home to me was that the chemist has no process in place to show that anyone has collected their drugs.

All in all, a very poor show.

My chemist is most helpful and I have heard, most chemists in Bedworth are.
When I needed prescriptions and forgot to reorder in time he lent me some to 'tide over'
Also he queried a new one the doctor prescribed for a chest infection, asking my permission to ask my doctor, because he thought a different -new -one was on the market.He was right too.

[Lex]

I've used the same chemist for years. I remember, about 15 years ago, I had a dose of sinusitis & concussion at the same time (don't ask!) and the doctor prescribed me cocodamol & ibuprofen. The pharmacist took a quick look at the prescription, walked over to one of the display shelves and gave me the equivalent own brand pills over the counter, saving me the best part of £5. I saved some cash, he made a bit of profit and ensured I kept going back due to his excellent service - everyone's a winner!

[cathidaw]

Boots in Bedworth do that too.