You wouldn't believe this guys but my first week as an official Patient Liason Advocate, the National news was full of complaints about the inadequate patient care in nursing homes and dementia clinics. But I believe it was purely a coincidence ... who would know (or even care), that little old me was having my first week in the job.
I'll cut to the chase ... it was great. I only visited the local public hospital and was treated with acceptance and confidence by all of the patients that I interviewed. The complaints were numerous and varied, from dirty linen to, bad food, and of course the one that concerned me the most, the treatment they received from most of the staff. The doctors were great, it was the nurses that treated them like objects.
Gossiping in the corridors while ignoring the patients buzzers requesting assistance from busted stitches, bandages loosening, excess bleeding, catheters not working, headaches worsening and emotional distress.
If the nurses were busy tending to other patients I would fully understand, but I was 'Johnny on the spot' and I could hear the nurses laughing and gossiping in the corridors talking about their weekends etc. And I haven't even been near the dementia ward yet. That comes next week. I'm taking it slowly, one day a week for now.
And I have done my homework and I have finished my report on today's interviews and in 3 weeks time I shall have visited 4 wards ... surgical, dementia, medical, and the ED ward.
And then I get to submit my report at the hospital board meeting.
I'm so glad I decided to do this and I know I could not have had the confidence to do it if it had not been for the belief, determination, resilience and trust that you guys had in me. I thank you so much for your unbridled faith and support that you imparted on me. You are my heroes.
Written by
Phogan
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I know this is really 'off thread' - but will continue in case it helps someone else in similar situation.
I'm taking it that you are female and operating in OZ? If I'm wrong on either or both , please forgive me and ignore the following.
As a female you will need to be mindful of going into a mainly male dominated authority structure- any criticisms / advice will need to be carefully and positively couched.
Also, as a ' civilian' commenting on professional workers , will , again need to be in the same vein.
I wonder what happened to the previous incumbent of your position? 😯
I have been a civilian member of a hospital board and understand very clearly the situation you are facing- it can be daunting and challenging.
I hope you have opportunities to get to know the nursing staff on a social basis within the hospital ambience- that will be the most effective method of achieving positive outcomes.
I wish you the very best in your endeavours and look forward to hearing how you get on.
Yes I am a female and yes I am from Oz. I have no intention of making social friends with the nurses. That is not part of my agenda. I'm only there to hear the patients stories .... the good, bad and the ugly. I have been appointed by the government of Queensland and the Minister for Health will see my report. I would not have been appointed without his approval. The Minister and the local member of parliament will also receive copies of my report. So if the board don't like it .... I'm afraid there is SFA they can do about it as the report will already be in their bosses hands and they can't sack me for two reasons.
1. They didn't employ me, the Minister did.
2. I am working as a volunteer.
Plus .... it's not up to me to make the changes, it's up to the board. But thank you for your interest and your suggestions.
PS: The report will also contain positives. (But unfortunately, so far, the negatives outweigh them by 85%). The main reason that I was appointed is because I have had so much experience as a patient
Just re-read your reply .... You've used very descriptive words to describe what I'll be facing at the board meeting. Male domination, criticism, daunting and challenging. There is only one thought in my mind when I think of those words ....BRING IT ON.
What I am trying to get at, is that real and positive change is better brought about through consensus and cooperation, rather than through confrontation.
Here in Ireland the Good Friday Agreement is a huge testament to that process. What was at play before that was pure confrontation. And look where that was going.
What a valuable contribution you are making to the conditions of our most vulnerable !
Thank you for changing lives and caring for people who “depend on the kindness of strangers.” We all have our turn at hurtful problems and we all are members of the family of Man. Interdependence is vital to the quality of the human condition.
During the week I was visiting my sick mother daily in hospital here in England I found the very things you describe. The nurses were frequently all in the staff room drinking tea while buzzers were ignored. One old lady was desperate for the toilet but needed a nurse to take her there and was panicking, another was wandering around out of bed clutching a full urine bag. "I keep buzzing but no-one comes" she said tearfully. I went down the corridor to where I could hear raised voices and laughter, and told them that nurses were urgently needed on the ward. One of them got up from her chair: "It's all right, I'll go", she said with a sigh, and the others carried on where they'd left off.
I was glad when my mother left that hospital - it wasn't well attended to either - a pair of someone else's knickers left behind my mother's bed were still there when she left, as I pointed out to staff.
Well done for doing what you're doing. It seems to be a general problem, especially among the younger nurses, they can't seem to be bothered. Perhaps they should forget degrees and get back to proper training on the wards. Good luck to you, I hope they listen.
Aww...that's so upsetting. My mom went through similar. Some of the aides were horrible to her. I got so mad. But what if I hadn't been there to witness it?
Speaking as one of the people you are criticising,during a 12 hour shift if I get the chance to sit down once for a cup of coffee it is a miracle.myself and the others that work on our ward often go the whole shift without even getting to go to the toilet and that is with managing my condition too. Not all hospitals are the same and the nurses I work with do an amazing job!
Yes I have had the pleasure of meeting many woneedful, caring, hard working and supportive nurses, but sadly 99% wirked in private hospitals. It was because of the treatment I received in the public arena that my daughter immediately had me in private health. Her words were, 'No-one has the right to treat my mother like that except me!
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