Treatment of the Elderly

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Of course I have a vested interest in this subject, but I am appalled by the stories which are now appearing, about the ill-treatment and neglect of elderly Patients in NHS and other, "Care"

Explanations are made, that it is only a very small proportion, of millions of cases.
I reckon that ONE is too many !

Once, I was a Member of a Community Health Council, and had the Statutory Right to enter any NHS Establishment, at any time --- day or night.
This Right was removed by the Government (Too Efficient ?) and the system of PALS (Patient Advisory Liason Service) was established instead.
This investigates any complaints --- and is run by ---- wait fir it ----- The Organisation, against whom the Complaint is made !!!!!
It further, has a rule that, when the first indication of Legal Action is mentioned ---- They STOP investigating and hand the whole thing over to the Legal Branch !!

(Once, also, I was a Member of an NHS Trust Board !)

WE need to go back to an INDEPENDENT Body of Inspection and Report.

[midget]

Of course!

[sejintenej]

Whilst I endorse your views wholeheartedly, I feel that you should have extended your coverage to include ALL those patients who are too sick to help themselves.

For example I used daily to pass the bed of a man (perhaps in late 60's) on a nil-by-mouth control and who was dying of cancer. He was immobile, in a mixed ward of perhaps 30 + people and with no curtains. He had plenty of visitors - during the very limited visiting hours. One day when I came in his eyes were closed and a few hours he was removed; what a way to die.

Another man in the same ward (ex West Ham professional!) had bone cancer and couldn't get out of bed; suddenly he "developed" a broken leg but by the time I was no longer going there it had not been even immobilised. He was a terminal patient.

Another patient, being moved to a hospice to die was sent out without having been given his medicine and painkillers (presumably to save money) - they even stripped his pyjamas off him before he went!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

sejinteneg -- I agree wholeheartedly !
The pont I was making about an Independent Inspection, was that it could enter ANY NHS establishment, at any time, which tends to concentrate the minds of the "Management" no end !

This would, therefore, as it used to, cover ALL patients --- although you must forgive my "Self-interest" at 81 !!!

[Mid A 15]

Suffice to say that I wholeheartedly agree with both Neill and David.

It is too distressing to elaborate so forgive me.

[kerrensimmonds]

I agree with all above. My experience is personal.....after I broke my hip and it was repaired in Worthing Hospital (where wards were closed due to infection and I spent four days on a male medical ward) I was to be discharged to another hospital, miles away, for rehabilitation. I protested that the new hospital was beyond the reach of my visitors (who were many). Firstly the ward staff tried to dismiss me with the information that my 'next of kin' (my younger brother) had authorised the move. No he hadn't, and in any case I am independent and perfectly able to speak and make decisions for myself. Secondly, after several hours of argument when I would not budge my position (and I won't describe how I was treated on the ward especially when it came to bodily functions) they agreed to move me to a small local hospital near where I live. It turned out to be a geriatric hospital and I was placed in a side room. The first night was a revelation - a nurse came by, ripped away my over-bed table and in the process tore the headphones from my ears and knocked my book and CD player onto the floor. She brusquely removed all my (several) get well cards from my bedside locker and put them and almost everything else out of my reach across the room. Then she turned out the light and told me it was time to go to sleep. It was 8.30 p.m. and I was in my mid-50's. I was left feeling very 'alone', not even able to touch the reminders of the friendship and support offered by the people who had sent cards. In the night I needed a commode (I was still immobile) and guess what it was she who returned. She was less than gracious, roughly manoeuvred me out of bed and onto the commode but left it and me out of reach of the necessary paper and the buzzer to call her return. I was left totally impotent. When eventually she did remember to return, her 'yeuch' noise of disgust (because I had tried to reach the paper but dropped it on the floor before being able to use it) could have been heard 10 miles away. She again roughly pushed me back into bed and left, and I wept myself to sleep. In the morning I was resolved that this was no way to treat a patient - not only me but also those other elderly patients who maybe could not speak for themselves. So I made a formal complaint. YESSSS! The Staff Nurse thanked me - they all 'knew' how she had been treating the patients but until they had evidence, they could not do anything. She did not lose her job but thereafter she was oilingly ingratiating every time she came anywhere near me. That was almost as sickening.
I have witnessed many elderly people in hospital having food and drink left on their over-bed tables and out of their reach but I am heartened to report that I am currently visiting a very elderly Old Blue who is now in a Nursing Home. Aged 97 and after so many strokes etc., she cannot communicate or move many muscles without help, and when she was taken there six/seven weeks ago, most people thought her demise would be within days if not hours. She is still with us. Why? Because of the TLC the home delivers. They are all caring and loving people, and they liquidise her meals and sit with her delivering spoonful by spoonful, and they have time to sit and talk to her and to give her drinks of tea and juices - and she is 'eating' far more than she did when she was in the hospital beforehand. Just goes to show....

[midget]

Oh for more hospices, BUT NOT RUN BY NHS.