Should we have mixed-sex wards?

[jambutty]

Originally Posted by blazey

I think that whilst adult wards can be a scary place for a young child, witnessing sickness and death is inevitable in life and its better to experience it from a young age than be blind to it til you're an adult. Just from my own experiences.

Not when you are ill yourself it isn’t.

[panther]

I wouldnt witness a death on anybody, loosing a close relative is the most horrific thing anyone can go through, and i wouldnt wish any child going through that!

[katex]

Originally Posted by panther

I wouldnt witness a death on anybody, loosing a close relative is the most horrific thing anyone can go through, and i wouldnt wish any child going through that!

Of course it is Panther, but only perhaps 80 years ago, death was treated in a different way, even child deaths .. obviously, lots of babies died then, and remember Mum saying how they used to parade around the open coffin of adults and children alike to say their goodbyes. Was treated as the natural thing to do .. with no lasting effects.

As for mixed wards .. No Way Olay (sp) .. get bloody constipated on holidays due to not wanting to go to strange toilets .. blooming hek, the thought of a male next to me in a bed listening to my efforts would not help the situation. Had a 10-day stay in hospital flat on me back once, and believe me doing it in a bedpan horizontally 'aint easy .. Only the help of a load of peaches by a visitor and the threat of a manual by nursing staff, encouraged the situation (and I was in a private ward).

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by katex

Only the help of a load of peaches by a visitor and the threat of a manual by nursing staff, encouraged the situation (and I was in a private ward).

what kind of manual were you offered ? auto repair ? DIY ?

[Margaret Pilkington]

No, steeljack it was one with a spoon and a pair of industrial latex gloves......I hope you can picture it.

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

No, steeljack it was one with a spoon and a pair of industrial latex gloves......I hope you can picture it.

No .......they don't do that .....do they ?

[lettie]

Originally Posted by steeljack

No .......they don't do that .....do they ?

Yes but the NHS can't afford spoons these days, it's latex gloves and fingers now.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Well, fingers are a bit softer than spoons, as long as the nails are well trimmed

[blazey]

I have a hindu friend and he says he dreads family deaths because everyone has to kiss the corpse on the lips.

I think that it's quite interesting that a culture does something like that. Death shouldn't be avoided or covered up, particularly not to children. I think its better children are taught about all aspects of life and that includes death.

There isn't anything useful about being brought up naive about things that are natural.

[blazey]

Originally Posted by jambutty

Not when you are ill yourself it isn’t.

i'm not quite sure which bit you are referring to as 'it', so I cant comment back to that.