Hospital and cleanliness - or the lack thereof

[polly]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

It cannot be ignored if it is put in writing - the hospital is required to respond to written complaints to acknowledge them within two working days.......they then have to investigate the background of the complaint.......statements are taken from all the staff involved......and then they have a time limit in which to let the complainant know what is happening in respect of that complaint.
Verbal complaints can be ignored, but there is a procedure to make note of and respond to even verbal complaints.

If no-one says anything then it is pretty sure that nothing will happen.
Hospital staff(in my experience) try to do their best for patients.......they do not go out of their way to be nasty and unhelpful, or for that matter put patients at risk...they are accountable for everything that they do.

And I was ward manager......though I preferred the term Senior Sister, and I did inspect the ward areas many times a day during my shift, I was ward based and I kept my eyes and my ears open so that situations were spotted before they became problems.

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To be fair people, particularly patients should not have to complain. When y our ill the last thing you feel like doing is making an offical complaint.

[WillowTheWhisp]

I did complain verbally but it didn't occur to me to put the complaint in writing. To be honest though why should I have to complain? It should be done. All this fuss about superbugs and so on and the hand cleanser dispensers all over the place but basic hygiene ignored.

[Bonnyboy]

Fire a letter off to the Chief Ecec. Don’t bother with any of the underlings.
I put a complaint in the other year about something, handed it into the ward which I was visiting. I got a response, letters went back and forth between myself and a “Modern Matron” eventually with me corresponding with the Chief Exec.

The issue was resolved shortly after to a degree by way of a full blown official apology. To be fair it was all they could offer after the event.

Getting annoyed again just thinking back to the particular event.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy

Getting annoyed again just thinking back to the particular event.

Are you telling us the story then?

[WillowTheWhisp]

Hmm they may well remember me from a complaint I made a few years ago bit I shall be thinking of writing a letter tomorrow. Just don't want it to backfire on my friend who is not well at all.

[Bonnyboy]

Originally Posted by Neil

Are you telling us the story then?

I went to visit a loved one, who had to go into hospital for several months, Oct 05 - May 06. I was working 4 on 4 off at the time 12 hour shifts. Visited every day on my 4 off.

The incident happened around 3 months or so into the hospital stay. I had just finished a set of nights, went to visit and on seeing my better half, knew summat was wrong instantly. Her face was like a balloon. An abscess in her mouth had formed. This went completely un-noticed by the nursing staff. No medication had been given, there was no concern shown whatever. When I pointed out something was seriously amiss, the apathy was still there. I was talked down to infact, at least that is how I felt.

I had to flipping argue in an office with someone…don’t even recall their title, heck, I was so angry….I really almost did pop the bloke in the mouth.
Medication was given in the end by way of anti-biotics, but had to wait 6 days to arrange an appointment with the hospital dentist.

The same group of staff had been seeing the lass on a daily basis for at least 3 months, you would think they would have noticed the dramatic change in facial features.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Hmm they may well remember me from a complaint I made a few years ago bit I shall be thinking of writing a letter tomorrow. Just don't want it to backfire on my friend who is not well at all.

By writing a letter of complaint you will be doing us all a favour.

By ignoring it you are turning a blind eye to the filth you have witnessed therefore nothing will be done about it.

Many more people will then be at risk of catching serious bugs in hospital.

It is your duty to your friend and everyone else to write that letter.

How could you writing a letter backfire on your friend?

They won't make her lick the floor clean.

[WillowTheWhisp]

I wasn't ignoring it. I did speak to someone whilst I was there. I just don't want anyone ignoring her or anything when she needs them if they think she's making a fuss about nothing because she has a grumpy friend who complains about stuff.

[BERNADETTE]

I know what you mean Willow but still think it needs reporting via letter, for goodness sake there is no need for it!! You are a concerned friend not a grumpy one

[grannyclaret]

Oh my god, bring back Hattie Jaques,,,,there was none of this nonsense in the 60,s ,,even the sheets had to have neatly folded corners or there was trouble,,,cleanliness was top priority,,you could smell the dettol as soon as you arrived.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by panther

My mum was in hospital with slight pneumonia,

What is slight pneumonia, you either have it or you dont. Can you have a touch of broken leg as well.

I went to school with a girl who had pneumonia, she ended up having two thirds of one of her lungs removed. I did wonder at the time if she had something more nasty but never asked her.

[blazey]

Willow, they can't mistreat your friend for you putting in a complaint, that's illegal and I think they wouldn't risk doing such a thing if they knew you were quite happy to complain about them in the first place.

I am glad I always have my camera with me, never know when I might need to take a picture of something to back me up. I'm a complainer too, and I haven't failed to get an apology yet for bad treatment. Stern words in a matter of fact context will get you everywhere.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Neil

Why so they can ignore it? It is their fault, especially the ward manager for the state of the ward. Do ward managers not inspect the condition of their areas of responsibility?

My response was a relevant and sensible(to me)suggestion.......there are very many genuine hard working staff in the NHS.
These people are all tarred with the same brush when you denigrate them all.....they have a very tough job and their morale is already at an all time low.......a response like the one above does nothing at all to change the situation, and makes the hard working staff feel that it really isn't worth carrying on in such a thankless task.

I no longer work in the NHS, but I know very many competent, compassionate and conscientious people who do, help them to do a better job by reporting, in writing,any deficiencies you see.
And it is courteous to let the Ward Sister/Manager know of your concerns in writing......he/she is obliged to take action. I reiterate, complaints like this cannot be ignored.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Willow, the complaint cannot backfire on your friend. Please follow my suggestion. It may show the Trust that the ward in question, does not have the resources/time/ staff etc to do the job they are paid to do. You may actually be helping the staff by complaining.

[jaysay]

I think the bottom line is that the nursing staff are overwork, and It should not be down to them to make sure everything is spik and span, they have enough to cope with treating the sick. There used to be a cleaner on every ward, but I havn't been an in patient since 2002 (I just don' want to go into hospital any time soon). I used to spend a lot of time on the old E3 at Queens Park and the sister on there wouldn't stand any messing at all, things were kept clean or else