NHS

[Random Orbital Bob]

It isn't often I start off topic threads but my young son was admitted to A&E Wednesday and I'm sat next to him post op after a reasonably comfortable night

I won't bore you with the details but I will openly praise the skill and dedication of the team involved in his care. Sometimes the NHS comes in for criticism but when they save your precious child's leg you tend to have a different perspective

 

[Peter Sefton]

I hope your lad is ok and makes a speedy recovery, we have had a couple of occasions to take our kids into hospital and the care they were given was fantastic. I fully support the guys who work within the NHS and the excellent work they do for us.

 

[Baldhead]

Bob sorry to hear about your son, it sounds very serious, I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery, please keep us posted.

All the best

Baldhead

 

[CHJ]

I feel for your mixed emotions of pain and appreciation, hope he bounces back quickly from his ordeal.

 

[Lons]

I hope he makes a speedy and full recovery Bob and he isn't left with too many battle scars. Best wishes to him and your family, I'm sure you had a tough few hours until you knew he was going to be OK.
I can empathize as many years ago my daughter had a serious car accident and it was touch and go for over a week.

Several of my family work or have worked at the sharp end in the NHS and in the main the front line staff are dedicated, hard working individuals. Unfortunately those who aren't, or who are demotivated by cuts and poor management, drag down the whole system. Complaints and bad news always grabs the headlines.

regards
Bob

 

[RobinBHM]

I often think its all too easy to criticise the NHS, but in times of real emergency they have highly skilled teams with lots of equipment able to deal with any trauma. Its good to know whatever the medical emergency, in this country we will get treated, free at the point of entry.

It sounds like you've had an horrendous few days, I hope your son is getting better.

Regards Robin

 

[Harbo]

I wish your son well Bob and hope he makes a speedy recovery?
I'm in hospital at the moment receiving excellent NHS treatment - I cannot praise them enough.

Rod

 

[paulm]

Hope the young man is over the worst and makes a good recovery Rob.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Graham Orm]

Glad to hear that you son is on the mend. I'm sure that having loving parents by his side will aid healing.

My daughter is in her second year of nursing after a 3 year degree induction. She is one of the most caring gentle people you could meet and says she is not allowed to administer care because she is expected to do 16 hours work in her 12 hour shifts, this leaves very little time to actually do any nursing. She never works less than 13 hours, often more with no overtime pay. She tells me that like any workplace there are workers and shirkers, but the shirkers can't stand the pace for long.

The NHS is a wonderful thing and we should be proud of it and value it. It's problems lie in the management of the system, not the front line staff.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Many thanks for the kind words everyone. It's heart warming at times like this

I appreciate the support and friendship

 

[Lons]

Glad to hear that you son is on the mend. I'm sure that having loving parents by his side will aid healing.

My daughter is in her second year of nursing after a 3 year degree induction. She is one of the most caring gentle people you could meet and says she is not allowed to administer care because she is expected to do 16 hours work in her 12 hour shifts, this leaves very little time to actually do any nursing. She never works less than 13 hours, often more with no overtime pay. She tells me that like any workplace there are workers and shirkers, but the shirkers can't stand the pace for long.

The NHS is a wonderful thing and we should be proud of it and value it. It's problems lie in the management of the system, not the front line staff.

My daughter is in a similar situation Grayorm, and for the sake of her health for the first time in her life she is very seriously considering leaving the NHS and possibly her chosen profession. People don't realise just how hard dedicated nurses work. Their degree is hard earned as unlike the normal university student, they don't get the months off between terms but have to work unpaid in a hospital.

She is an ITU nurse working in an extremely stressful conditions dealing with life or death situations and the emotional strain of losing patients she is trying so hard to save. Not something I for one could cope with! Several times, I've seen her in tears at the death of one of her patients.

The powers that be make them work rotas of several days on nights followed by days often with only one day in between to recover. Imagine what that does to a persons sleep paterns and health - unacceptable and dangerous when you consider the nature of their work. The reasons - to save money by not paying additional for nightshift working. :roll:

Rant over

Bob

 

[david123]

Glad he is on the mend. It's hard when your child is ill. No matter how big and tough you are, you feel helpless in those situations. We are lucky indeed to have such a great health service. keep us in touch with his progress, we will be thinking of you.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Having not long spent three months in hospital after major operations, I have great respect for the vast majority of people working within the NHS, but as a system it can be quite dire in places. Someone made a point a while ago which I thought was valid - It's the people who think that the NHS is perfect and the best healthcare in the world that often prevent it's being improved.

 

[Graham Orm]

My daughter is in a similar situation Grayorm, and for the sake of her health for the first time in her life she is very seriously considering leaving the NHS and possibly her chosen profession. People don't realise just how hard dedicated nurses work. Their degree is hard earned as unlike the normal university student, they don't get the months off between terms but have to work unpaid in a hospital.

She is an ITU nurse working in an extremely stressful conditions dealing with life or death situations and the emotional strain of losing patients she is trying so hard to save. Not something I for one could cope with! Several times, I've seen her in tears at the death of one of her patients.

The powers that be make them work rotas of several days on nights followed by days often with only one day in between to recover. Imagine what that does to a persons sleep paterns and health - unacceptable and dangerous when you consider the nature of their work. The reasons - to save money by not paying additional for nightshift working. :roll:

Rant over

Bob

Agreed Bob. Exactly the tale I get from Jenny. She's on a renal unit which also suffers losses of patients. She has to cover too many seriously ill patients on her own or with a trainee and simply cannot stretch herself far enough. She tells me she often has to prioritise the requirements of patients. Thankfully she is being transferred to the Dialysis unit soon for 6 months which is slower paced and will give her an extra qualification. She had talked of looking for a job on ITU as she thought it would be where the correct amount of care was given, obviously not from what you say. Quite scary eh?

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Little chaps asleep so......one of the nurses on our ward has apparently worked 4!!! (yes that's what I thought) shifts on the trot due to August being vacation period and poor cover. Apart from feeling incredibly sorry for the individual, if that's not a health and safety disaster waiting to happen with the patients then I don't know what is. The front line staff, especially the nurses have my sympathy in spades, absolutely amazing job they perform in incredibly difficult circumstances and usually with a smile to boot.

 

[Harbo]

In the hospital I'm in, they work 3 shifts of 12.5hrs:- 07:00 to 19:30 and 19:00 to 07:30 (1/2hr handover) per week.
There should be 4 Staff Nurses with 4 Care Assistants during the day for 24 beds
During the night it falls to half that.
Dammed hard work especially with some patients!

In another ward I was in for 11 beds, it was 2 Nurses with two CA's daytime, two Nurses only at night.

The wards are split into smaller bays and small rooms so quite an area to cover?
Never seemed to be a shortage of care though.

Rod

 

[lanemaux]

Best wishes for your sons speedy recovery Bob. If he is to spend some time in bed , immobile ,and is anything like me he will be wanting better diversion than a TV. I got through one hospital stay in the 70's by reading The Lord of the Rings books. The time literally whizzed by. Mine and my families thoughts are with you and your son amigo.

 

[Woodmonkey]

Having been on the receiving end of treatment from A&E more than once I can only second those sentiments echoed here. Hope your son makes a speedy recovery.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Thanks again folks. So far so good today, pain more under control and he's playing chess

 

[Jacob]

NHS did a good job on my knee. It's now my best bit!
Post op through the night it felt like every ten minutes they kept waking me up for blood pressure , temperature, pain killers, cups of tea, p|ss bottles etc. Couldn't get a wink of sleep.