Disgusted at the NHS

loftus

Inpatient care.

tandraig

lauhen wrote: »

I work for the nhs as a hca, I work on various wards, and so far I cannot fault any for cleanliness, patient care, etc (touch wood). I begin an early shift at 7am and straight away, it is time to get patients up and about where possible, prop them up in bed, put them in the their chair etc, we then have probably a two hour window where they all get washed, fed and most of the beds made and dirty sheets changed. This may run over slightly depending on the number of patients. From then onwards we just tend to there needs, I can't speak for others but for myself, I tend to float around to each patient throughout my shift, we chat, are observe and if they ask me for something that a nurse should do or administer, then I find one and pass the message on, and normally the nurse does it. On a late shift, I do obs if needed, help with tea, toileting, getting ready for bed, chatting, and floating again. I just wanted to let you know what the hospital I work at is like. Sorry if others are not the same.

please - what hospital do you work at? will arrange to be in the vicinity if need care - it sounds wonderful!!! oh and well done to you!!! you lovely caring person :T

Newly_retired

In my ( extended) family over the past few years we have had 4 births, 2 deaths ( strokes in the elderly) 2 cancer ops and treatment, and 3 other in-patient stays for serious conditions + various outpatient visits in 6 different hospitals. Apart from delays, only 2 fairly minor complaints from us overall. I have a great deal of praise for the nursing staff.
But the OP's experience is a disgrace. Pinderfields has an awful reputation locally and has done for years. I would not opt to go there as an in-patient.
There are basic minimum standards of care and cleanliness and anything less is unacceptable.

NoahsPennilessMummy

patchwork cat......as I used to work in ID nursing I nursed many TB patients....you would be surprised to know it isnt rare in this country anymore...it is quite rife amongst the ever increasing homeless population.

Dr.Rock

bumpoowee wrote: »

nursing is often just basic tasks like cleaning and doesn't change much over time.

No doubt I've opened myself up to abuse here for daring question NHS workers, but I do get tired of people going on about how nurses/teachers etc get a raw deal when if you look at the facts they really don't. What I would say is that in my own experience recently I found the midwives very good during my partners labour but their advice at all other times was crap and health visitors who are very well paid are without exception a complete waste of public money giving terrible advice with a healthy dose of a consdescending attitude mixed in.

You obviously don't know anything about Nurses or Nursing so I'll disregard your opinions though I repsect your right to have them.
I will say that there are !!!! Nurses around, but there are also very good ones. Just like in every other walk of life.

Dr.Rock

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Must be honest though my experience of Health visitors certainly didn't warrant pay in the £30K range, (they are band 6 and up)! Although I would argue nurses are not usually paid £30K upwards without a speciality or promotion, perhaps nurses could comment - band 5 is not £30K up.

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Would some one with 2 years post grad be a qualified solicitor? The thing is that a solicitor with 10 - 15 years experience and a large client base can expect to earn a LOT of money. Upwards of £100K for a partner is quite usual I believe. In nursing and midwifery once you reach the top of the grade where is there to go?

A Staff Nurse is a band 5 job, this can only increase if you specialise, although you can only get so far. Nurses can go on into management roles although this is not a hands-on clinical role so often doesn't interest the majority of people.

cheapscate wrote: »

is this really true? everyone I know is either related to someone who has had a bad experience of NHS service or has suffered themselves.

Yes it's true. The incidents where things go wrong, or where service was poor, are more memorable because of the prolonged and serious effects they can have on a person, whereas good experiences will get forgotten more quickly.

People have the right to expect a certain level of service from an NHS establishment and if that level isn't met they have the right to complain. If people don't complain then the assumption is that everything is fine, and we don't know where we have problems. If this doesn't happen then changes can't be made to improve the situation.

BTW I work in Quality Assurance at a Hospital so this subject is very close to my heart. I can't speak for other places but if you complain in writing then you will get a reponse and the issue will be investigated. I guess at some places this isn't happening, but that shouldn't stop anyone from writing, or going to PALS, or going to your MP if you really feel you're getting ignored. We also regularly monitor patient satisfaction through monthly surveys and it is always very high. The majority of complaints are over issues that we just don't have the money to do anything about, i.e. more toilet facilities, more parking; rather than complaints of a clinical nature.

patchwork_cat

Noah - I did say it is rising in certain sectors, We do have cases locally amongst people of Asian descent who have visited relatives abroard ( there are other countries where TB is rife ). I did know about the homeless and TB and the incidence in other sectors of society , but didn't want to infer that the posters parents lived in perhaps poor housing or had other risk factors .

patchwork_cat

Dr Rock - why did you cut and paste my comments, was it because you agreed as all I can see is your reiteration that nursing is band 5 ( which I said) and where is there to go once you have reached the top of your band unless you specialise or are promoted which obviously everyone can't be promoted!

Kaz2904

I promised myself that I wasn't going to post on this thread and Ive held back for days.
A newly qualified staff nurse will earn £20710 per year. I earn £24831.
I've been qualified for 7 years now and am regularly left in charge. I am a senior, have done my teaching course, I cannulate, I take blood, I check blood results, I take and read ECG's, I give IV drugs. I wash patients, I turn them, I feed them, I hold their hands while they're dying. I ring their family and hold their hands when they're crying.

OP, sorry for your awful experience but we're not all bad.

Dr.Rock

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Dr Rock - why did you cut and paste my comments, was it because you agreed as all I can see is your reiteration that nursing is band 5 ( which I said) and where is there to go once you have reached the top of your band unless you specialise or are promoted which obviously everyone can't be promoted!

Yes, just agreeing with what you said and adding that although it's not strictly true that there is nowhere further upwards to go, to do so would take nurses away from the frontline of dealing with patients which, for most is the reason they are in that job. Obviously, as you point out, the competition for specialist Nurse jobs is gretaer than that for staff Nurse positions.