gilbert bain hospital

[shetlandpeat]

The staff at GB do a splendid job, even more so when you consider the abuse they can get as well as folks personalities. They have looked after some of my family to the end, and done it well too.

Things are slowly getting worse here now as there is pressure to "make a profit". Within the NHS Trusts here, there are also big changes, the whole budget is being handed to the GPs to manage, they are now working with 2 tiers of local Gov as that looks like it may also be the only way it can be managed. No doubt the Victor Meldrews' will have something to say about that. It will be the staff and patients who will notice the change in the way they are looked after and thought of.

[joenorth]

There's no pressure within the NHS to make a profit whatsoever. It's funded by government with money raised from the general public. Private healthcare providers are usually commercial concerns, although organisations like BUPA are also non-profit making.

 

There is, however, much pressure to save money within the NHS, which has much the same effects as trying to turn a profit.

 

GP fundholding has been tried before and was not a success. The current Tory move to do this is a crass attempt at further commercialisation/privatisation of a service which belongs to the people (bearing in mind that most GPs run their practices as private businesses).

[shetlandpeat]

It seems that the ConDemNation want to let hospitals use 49% of assets for private treatments. Either hospitals would have to increase size or treat less via the NHS.

 

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said it was "a seriously worrying development".

 

"At a time when the health service has to make significant efficiency savings, it is only natural, that given the option, providers will look to maximise their income through private patients," he said.

 

"This will undoubtedly lead to a situation whereby those who can afford to pay will get faster access to better treatment, with increased waiting times and a decrease in quality for NHS patients."

 

Hospitals, paid for by the NHS, us will need to realise a profit to put back into the system. The worry is that the actual amount put back in will be far less than that realised.

 

Then I wonder about emergency treatment and how a private patient will react to having an operation delayed, that they paid for because of such emergency treatment. If the hospital do not invest in extra land, beds, theatres and the staff required.

 

Link

[Ian_H]

I am sure there is pressure to save money everywhere, particularly for public bodies in this financial climate.

 

But back to the starting subject of this thread. A time ago a relative was admitted to the Ronas ward of the Gilbert Bain. In my view, the care provided by the staff there was excellent, with everyone I saw doing their best for the comfort and care of patients.

 

The ward itself looked good and very clean. The single bed en-suite room I saw was to a very good standard in all respects. While that is just a snapshot of one small part of the hospital, based on what I saw I give full marks for that part of the Gilbert Bain and NHS Shetland.

[joenorth]

Sorry Shetlandpeat, my misunderstanding, you're quite right. While NHS patients have nothing to do with profit-making, treating private patients using NHS facilities does happen (which is a bad thing, to my mind)...

[engineer21]

why does every thread on here get dragged down??? same people too!

 

started off good and has gone off the rails! start a new thread if you wanna discuss pvt vs public......no?

[JohanofNess]

^Internet forums I'm afraid for every thread started praising someone there will be a user who doesn't want to join in the spirit of the thread but still say what they want. For the threads that are there to say thank you they should be left as just that. Mind the one for the posties where a simple thank you became a bloody drama.

[unlinkedstudent]

^Internet forums I'm afraid for every thread started praising someone there will be a user who doesn't want to join in the spirit of the thread but still say what they want. For the threads that are there to say thank you they should be left as just that. Mind the one for the posties where a simple thank you became a bloody drama.

 

... and a Happy New Year to you too JoN!

 

The title of this thread is not "Praise the GBH". Now, should I start another "bloody drama" by commenting on this one ...

 

... never been on a ward in GBH so can't comment. Regularly attend Outpatients and have found the Consultants and Nurses to be really good. Receptionists, however, tend to give the impression of being unable to cope with more than two people in the queue and are slow, with other clerical staff in the hospital appearing to be unable to 'think outside the box'/transfer a call. Having worked in several NHS Hospital Trusts/PCTs in London, I doubt if the clerical staff in GBH could cope with the workload outside of GBH.

 

If you want downright rude, incompetent medical staff, suggest you look at Newham Hospital which is, quite frankly, dire and a health risk (And no, I'm not joking). Medical staff at GBH are on par with other London hospitals which is no surprise concerning one particular Consultant given that he previously worked at Barts & The London NHS Trust.

[joenorth]

why does every thread on here get dragged down??? same people too!

 

started off good and has gone off the rails! start a new thread if you wanna discuss pvt vs public......no?

 

^Internet forums I'm afraid for every thread started praising someone there will be a user who doesn't want to join in the spirit of the thread but still say what they want. For the threads that are there to say thank you they should be left as just that. Mind the one for the posties where a simple thank you became a bloody drama.

 

Does a comment about NHS v private healthcare in a thread about an NHS hospital equate to 'going off the rails'. FFS! Doesn't make a 'bloody drama' in my book either. Nobody is dragging anything down. 'Same people' my a**e! This is an internet forum, people can express any reasonable view they want!

 

I'm very happy for people to keep praising the GB and the people who work there because I've worked on the wards there for many years, and still do!

 

So my last comment in this thread will be positive, although self praise is no praise, they say.

 

The GB is excellent!

[shetlandpeat]

why does every thread on here get dragged down??? same people too!

 

started off good and has gone off the rails! start a new thread if you wanna discuss pvt vs public......no?

 

 

These posts you call -ve are from concern that the +ve posted may not last.

As well as reporting the good stuff, we should think of the possible outcomes in relation to that if services are restricted in anyway. It is the folk on the front line that make the service what it is, this so far has been a far better thread about the GBH and worries about it than the thread last posted about it making unproven claims to abuse.

 

I have been treated at the GBH, twice for the same injury. From what I remember, I got a lolly as well.

 

The consensus is to keep it good I think, we are not rubbishing the hospital at all.

 

Oh, were were not discussing Private Care against NHS care

[JustMe]

Thankfully I have not had too much experience of the GBH but that which I have had has been???. I hesitate to say good simply because some of the prods and pokes could not be called good but certainly I have no complaints about the service or the quality of the staff at all levels. Considering they all spend their days dealing with people who mostly do not want to be there I think they do a grand job.

[Biglad]

I've been to A&E a couple of times myself and helping others, never had a problem.

 

I've had a relative in the Ronas Ward too for a length of time and without doubt the best possible care was given at all times, very caring people up their.

 

By all accounts we have it good up here, you can't keep everyone happy though but I would think generally we do well here. Just my opinion though!

[engineer21]

well like most of that wasnt expected its like going fishing on here!

 

why not start a thread "the goverments crazy changes to NHS care" whilst i aggree with what SP says in my opinion (which i belive im fully entitled to on a public forum no??) this thread was about something positive as opposed to the 90% other threads on here which are more of a debate.

 

and yes GBH is Great! i saw the dentist in there recently and i hate dentists but he is very very good i must say! (ending on a positive)

[Bluemire]

I have had many an experience of the GBH whether it be outpatients, ward stays or A & E and there are some very positive things about the place and on the other hand things could improve, i feel that is the case with anywhere because nowhere is perfect but i have never had one complaint about a member of staff and i think because it is a much more relaxed atmosphere everybody seems more relaxed?! (I may be wrong on that)

One particular case was of my son when he was just 4 months old, i am forever greatful to the 2 doctors who made the decisions and saved his life but i was slightly disappointed because of the lack of pediatric care and knowledge. Due to the lack of funding, space and medical prefessionals we ended up in Aberdeen making the experience all the more stressful. Although don't get me wrong the GBH were AMAZING and i can not fault any member of staff!!!

My only major complaint about the GBH is when staying on the ward then on the doctors rounds there are about 30 (slight exaggerated number) or so doctors who make the rounds, i am all for letting people learn but when they stand above you forgetting you are there speaking amongst themselves and ignore you it can be very intimidating and sometimes embarrassing discussing your problems infront of a bunch of strangers (other patients)

[I.S]

I was recently referred to the Pain Clinic, GBH, by my GP, as I had been waiting over a year for painkilling injections from ARI. Despite having been treated down there regularly in the past, instead of treating me as a repeat patient, ARI cancelled my original appointment and re-listed me as a NEW patient. They tried to fob me off, telling me this would actually speed my treatment up, but anyone who knows anything about waiting times knows full well this is just so much BS. My calls were unanswered or never any reply to messages left.

 

Eventually, feeling the inevitable deterioration in my condition, I went back to my practice here in Shetland. This was end November 2011. The GP was horrified and referred me on an emergency basis to GBH, as he said they are able to carry out the same procedures there (they weren't when my treatment first started). I was seen by Dr Poulton in December and he was superb. He promised I'd be seen ASAP for treatment, by early January.

 

I was taken in last Wednesday and received the (now) blissful relief from the constant pain resulting from spinal injury & nerve root compression that Aberdeen had been content to leave me with. It's not gone altogether, but I can deal with it a lot easier, without recourse to the full doses of heavy medications I have been on. (Why do they medicate so much? One of my doctors asked the same question, pointing out that these substances cannot help but change the individual taking them on a behavioural basis! Easy way out, maybe...?)

 

Strangely enough, no sooner had GBH sent me out my appointment, than ARI sent one out for the day after! What a coincidence!! Needless to say, I cancelled ARI.

 

Dr Poulton, who was not even due to be doing procedures that day, did mine for me especially. He administered a mild sedative to make the uncomfortable procedures easier for me. I only ever had a local before at ARI, despite having to endure two caudal epidurals - the 1st one, they realised they'd used the wrong length of needle after working it all the way in! The anaesthetist there was training, and I was obviously her guinea pig. They then re-administered the epidural, using an even longer needle. What a pleasure. That was the singular most painful experience of my life - and I have had several. I was shaking and sweating by the time they were done. Maybe this was due to her inexperience? I don't know, but I don't want to be treated there again. They were sloppy, offhand and surly, with 1 single exception, who was told to shut up & be quiet as she asked if I was okay!!

 

Compare this to GBH. I was introduced to every member of staff there, in the day surgery, by Dr Poulton. They chatted to me, put me at ease, looked after my comfort and basically respected me, treating me as a human being. The procedure was swift and the sedative helped! When I left the surgery and back to the ward, they let me sleep off the effects for a couple of hours, despite being so busy there. They couldn't have been more attentive, bringing teas and sandwiches when I awoke. I know they had a duty of care to look after me as a patient, but as anyone who's been through the NHS knows, there's care and there's care.

 

I simply cannot fault the staff there, and would vigorously defend those who looked after me so well, taking them as slightly more than a random dip sample of staff there. I know others who feel that some can be "iffy" or off-hand, but these are only one or two amongst many.

 

Show me an organisation that does not have individuals like that!!

 

GBH gets my vote, pure and simple, and I've been treated for various things in quite a few hospitals the length & breadth of Scotland.

 

My thanks and appreciation goes to all those who looked after me so well, and who do the same for many, many others on a daily basis, often with little or no appreciation .