How Safe is Your Hospital

[shetlandpeat]

You can start by building a base level of information. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com can help do that, there are already some requests, this then lets you keep this in a public forum, you will find those with nothing really to add will not bother.

The health service will be going through some big changes, it starts down here this April when the doctors will be in charge of some of the budget once held by PCTs, they will now be called Clinical Commissioning Groups. The PCTs past roles have also been fragmented with the Council getting about 10% of the budget.

If this were to happen all over, GBH will have to compete with the likes of Virgin Health and other hospitals.

[Silvercloud]

Bresail what are you suggesting locals march throughout town for your rally and any staff that come along wear gags

[paulb]

You can start by building a base level of information. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com can help do that, there are already some requests, this then lets you keep this in a public forum, you will find those with nothing really to add will not bother.

The health service will be going through some big changes, it starts down here this April when the doctors will be in charge of some of the budget once held by PCTs, they will now be called Clinical Commissioning Groups. The PCTs past roles have also been fragmented with the Council getting about 10% of the budget.

If this were to happen all over, GBH will have to compete with the likes of Virgin Health and other hospitals.

 

does not apply to scotland and will not apply.

[shetlandpeat]

Paul,

 

I think in Scotland you can use the website I posted to form a base level of information.

As for the changes to the Health System, you can not say that in Scotland, there will not be any changes..

I hope we do both live long enough to see that it does not happen, or be applied.

At a recent Scrutiny meeting I attended, even the professionals were a little confused.

 

Anyhow, FYI the Viewforth thing is still ongoing.

 

We have though had a few problems with Health professionals taking folks with Mental Health issues medical needs seriously. this goes on all over, so it is not isolated. Eventually it was sorted, but not without much suffering and cost.

I will tell you more in a PM if you are interested.

[Ladylady]

 

We have though had a few problems with Health professionals taking folks with Mental Health issues medical needs seriously. this goes on all over, so it is not isolated.

 

Should folks with mental health issues not be taken seriously?!

 

That's quite outrageous.

[bresail]

Peat,

Thanks, for your post and the website, it will be helpful.

I sat thinking yesterday about the gagging orders extant in Shetland.

 

Apparently the SIC is the the largest employer in Shetland and the NHS is also pretty high up on the employment list, multiply the total of the above employees by 3, which would be the dependents who are by default on the gaggers list.

I couldn't find the numbers of SIC or NHS employees, to be able to work out the percentage of population who are gagged.

I wondered if.

1. I am the only person ungagged?

2. We have a greater prcentage of gagged than Putin.

Regards.

[bresail]

I have been researching how others are dealing with their problems in the NHS.

I am going to begin with the taxpayer/ patients who are the employers of all NHS staff.

Cure the NHS Survival Guide

 

We have put together the following points to help to ensure everyone receives the treatment and care they should expect regardless of age or vulnerability as a patient.

 

1. Everyone has a right to be tested for MRSA and C-diff on admission to the hospital. Ask to be tested on admission to ensure you are not taking the infection into the hospital- some hospitals will offer the tests as they do not want someone bringing infections into the hospital.

 

2. Everyone should have a care plan. This sets out the plan for you or your relatives care. Ask to see it, inform staff you want to be involved with your relatives care provide as much information as you can. Ensure you have regular communication with the doctors and nurses. Ask when the ward round takes place. Inform staff you want to be present. Ask questions, you have a right to be kept informed of test results and any changes to the plan of care i.e. medication. Ensure you know who your relatives ‘named nurse’ is and that they know who you are.

 

3. Try to spend as much time with your relative as possible. Try to get there other than at visiting times, especially meal times. You have a right to stay, ask to be shown the relatives facilities i.e. bathroom.

 

4. Ensure your relative is receiving the right nutrition and fluids. Ensure you have access the nutrition and fluid charts. If you have concerns and one is not in place ask for one. If they are not being filled in by the staff, ask why. You may find ‘refused’ has been put on the chart. If so question it. If your relative is unable to feed themselves ask what system is in place to ensure your relative is given food and fluids.

 

5. You have a right to an assessment from social services. This is for anyone who is classed as a vulnerable adult. Ask for one.

 

6. If you are not happy with any treatment or service you or your relative is receiving, ask to see the ward manager. You have a right to ask questions and make a complaint. This should be done in writing and addressed to the Chief Executive Martin Yeates. Send copies to your MP and Cure the NHS. Include any evidence – times, dates, witness contact details.

 

Cure the NHS members hope this guide will help you or your relatives during their hospital stay. If you have any other advice that we could add please let us know and we can include them.

 

That is a good place to start and I'm sure it is not offensive and certainly shows your basic rights.

Regards.

[Silvercloud]

Hospital food might be another good place to start as its absolutely awful.

How a patient /mother /child ever expected to get well on what is being served up is beyond me.

 

I dread to think what would be served up for anyone who is a coeliac other than baked potato or chicken salad and whether it been prepared totally separately away from other food stuff and cutlery etc .

 

Porridge is foul stodgy stuff that has a vague look of porridge about it, toast is cold and manky.

[bresail]

Ok,

I've been getting info on the failings at the Staffordshire Hospital, you can do the same if you wish, at www.curethenhs.co.uk. You will find certain similarities to the problems we have here.

The inquiry achieved was brought about by a small group of people that didn't give up.

So why should I try to make a difference here?

I don't have family here and am a soothmoother.

I live in Sheltered housing, (I jokingly call it death row,) here in Bressay.

I am quite fit for my age.

I have recently realised that I am mortal and bits of me are wearing out but I've lasted longer than most cars.

For the last 6 years I've been getting sporadic and acute pains in my stomach.

The diagnoses have been, something I ate, something I didn't eat, a little bit of stuck poo in one case I was told to stop thrashing about in pain, I wasn't dying.

Finally, (remember after 6 years), I was diagnosed with gall stone problems. I was lucky, the occassional gall stone blockage moved away again. I am now without a gall bladder, a partial filleting.

Undiagnosed gall stone problems can be life threatening.

I do know of other cases of gall bladder illnesses that have been undiagnosed and people have been sent home with painkillers. I am but one of them. Some of these people have suffered from terrible and possible fatal complications and have had to be medevaced to Aberdeen.

I was also given painkillers to take that I shouldn't use as a warfarin taker.

I am hoping that I can make a difference for you and your kids and that is why I'm contiuing to keep this thread going.

[Silvercloud]

For what its worth good on you .

 

I hope that I made some mothers realise that their choices options in childbirth here.Sowere not given option to be explored. or put off.

Many think or have an idea small units personlised care indvidual rooms equals excellence. Moreto good midwifery than just indvidual room, many of which could do with with updating and delivery rooms need more than just pool stuck in a room or a bed with couple black and white drawings.

See one world birth thread below.

 

I'm still for ever hoping we will have a room dedicated for an early loss for these ladies.It was discussed couple years ago and items were brought r use for such a room now being used in the dayroom.

 

There is still not enough being done to help those ladies who have or have had a miscarriage here.

Just number to the mainland to ring as helpline is not good enough for these ladies.

Facts and options in this area need to be explored so women can make proper informed choices and not just presume they have to go to Aberdeen for eg for Dand C.

 

As far as I'm aware to date we don't have m/c /loss room for this purpose which is disgusting.

This area has been so overlooked in so many aspects and Shetland ladies deserve more than just leaflet with few numbers on it. It's a specialist area should be given the attention it deserves.

 

Choices and options in childbirth need protecting for future women and our daughters .

Sometimes just putting information out that up to date and correct and talkng to people is sometimes your best bet to help improve things/help inform others so they can read info and then its up to themselves .

 

You will need enough people who are prepared to stand up to campaign for better improved open services that will be your biggest hurdle .

[Silvercloud]

Now we are set to lose some of our rural GP's but still no word of any of NHS Shetland managers going, to try and save money.Totally disgusting.

 

Just get so much better doesn't it.

[bresail]

Yes it is a stupid way of saving money. But, unfortunately when you have overpaid bureaucrats who have learned how we let them get away with deceipt, coverups and downright inefficiency.

Let's look at the very word, bureaucracy,

authority based on administrative rules rather than personal allegiance or social custom, and a “rational†and impersonal institution whose members function more as “offices†than as individuals.

 

A relatively modern view is,

Robert K. Merton emphasized its red tape and inefficiency due to blind conformity to procedures. More recent theories have stressed the role of managerial cliques, occupational interest groups, or individual power-seekers in creating politicized organizations characterized by internal conflict.[/quote]

The original meaning was and is,

A bureaucracy is a group of non-elected officials within a government or other institution that implements the rules, laws, ideas, and functions of their institution.

They should not and are not there to make rules, laws, ideas of and functions of their offices.

If an African state was to have a leader who did not allow anyone to criticise his rule, we would be up in arms about him. Okay we are not as bad as Saddat but there is a faint hint of trouble for anyone who does critcise the NHS, SIC.

Whatever happened to our Freefield martyr?

 

I sincerely hope that the ideas below will be implememted throught Britain

The inquiry chairman, Robert Francis QC, described events at the hospital as "appalling and unnecessary" which led to hundreds of people suffering and had "betrayed" the public's trust in the NHS.

 

He recommended that units that failed to adhere to basic standards of care should be prevented from providing services, and if those failings had led to death or serious harm to patients legal sanctions were appropriate.

 

NHS staff should also face prosecution if they hid information about poor care and should be compelled to be open with patients about mistakes.

 

He also recommended:

 

The merger of the regulation of care into one body - two are currently involved

Senior managers to be given a code of conduct and the ability to disqualify them if they are not fit to hold such positions

An increased focus on compassion in the recruitment, training and education of nurses, including an aptitude test for new recruits and regular checks of competence as is being rolled out for doctors

 

He said failings went right to the top of the health service saying the Department of Health was too "remote" and focussed on "counterproductive" reorganisations.

 

I have recently heard that some topline footballers are attempting to find top jobs in the NHS, they have heard of the pay, benefits and perqs that are on offer.

[bresail]

I've just finished my marathon post but here is a note of praise.

Yesterday I had to go to the outpatients clinic. I was impressed by the efficient and friendly sevice of all the staff. I came away knowing exactly what my problem was and how it was going to be treated.

 

Thank you to everyone of tne Outpatients staff.

Regards.

[bresail]

It is a good job that I never feel lonely.

Is it something that I said?

So back to the gagging clauses which in fact are illegal and are being investigated at last.

I have worked out a rough guide to the population that are under gagging orders in Shetland,

Population approx 22,500

 

Sic workers -- " -- 2,000

NHS -- " -- 750

Total 2750

No. of people affected by gagging order includes 2 adults and 2 dependants

= 11000 gagees.

That is going on 50 percent of population.

Does this mean that 50 percent do not want a better NHS?

Regards.

[shetlandpeat]

I do not think they are fully enforceable. I mean, what company would admit to misleading its customers by prosecuting someone for highlighting the fact.

If it were in the public interest, then no gag should stop someone.

I then wonder, if you employed 10 folk, would you be happy with a few of them rubbishing your management, company and product openly in public be it they were right or wrong or not in receipt of the full facts?

 

That being said, there has to be some discipline. There could be cases that could drag in members of the public, to some degree, they would need to be protected, I would not want to see someone forced into the public eye to prove another point.

 

Perhaps if folks did not take the job because of a draconian restriction on openness and the fight for transparency, there may be better protection devices in place, like openness and transparency.