Emma Satchell
By
Hazel Speed
In recent times I have been edified of stories and situations which prove any ambitions the Government may have regarding NHS issues are not going to happen soon and probably not for a decade or more, if then, who can know or guess.
The feature herein about Northampton confirmed that Paramedics had to stay with patients lined up on trolleys in hospital corridors as Accident and Emergency Departments could not cope.
This type of situation has been/still is replicated by other hospitals throughout the UK.
Whilst Paramedics are present there is a duplicity in some ways in that on the one part, crews are held up from going out on other equally urgent calls, sitting in rows like patients themselves, and on the other part, as they are ‘witnesses’ it can be the case that patient treatment and intermediate medical care attention, ad hoc, is ‘playing to the Gallery’ and soon deteriorates once the Paramedics have left.
People share their views and comments with me and to be fair to them, although I would love to reiterate some of the horror stories that still exist, to protect their ongoing care, I cannot sadly divulge what should be told.
I did promise a Mr J, that I would relay his thanks for a terrific crew of Paramedics who arrived at his home and were kindness itself from the moment they arrived until they were able to leave him in a hospital corridor 5 or 6 hours later the next morning.
Apparently, prior to that, the ‘system’ in place at his home prior to their arrival was pure hell and hell again after their departure.
Caring neighbours schemes only work if neighbours give a damn. Gone are the days when neighbours, upon seeing the arrival of ambulances or return home of a person would initiate an enquiry ‘can I get you anything’ or ‘are you ok?’. In fact some neighbours would choose to look after someone a few miles away rather than a person next door without the ability to cope in a medical emergency or any relatives to rely on. Such people are still easy prey as there is nobody to fight their corner or challenge a false written remark on file. Indeed, it is often better not to do so, at least in writing as often Ward Sisters ‘judge a person as they find them’. That is all one wants – a caring and just reaction based on a given crisis or person’s ability to cope. The elderly or mentally ill, dementia people are often treated badly – God help them.
There are groups such as Elder Abuse, but again, it is a risky business to challenge a local hospital on whom one may depend.
As with any large Organisation, the same hospital can have a spotlessly clean Ward or Department at one end and a Doss House mentality at the other.
It was not unknown for lint with blood from a former patient to be folded over and put near an injection site for another, thereby risking infection or HIV.
What is the answer when funding is not there and there is no joined-up writing?
Paramedics may not all be as caring or kind as the team Mr J had helping him. Some may be aggressive to a person, bullying and others may appear chatty then pull a face as they walk away from someone.
There are new solutions yet also new horrors, but the system will never change unless there is the will, the finance and, as I have said in previous articles on these issues, voice activated video and audio interactions every time a patient is approached, such as the Police are presently adopting to great success. Then when a patient leaves a hospital they should be given (and a Corporate sponsorship could be in place), a memory stick or CD of the same with the hospital retaining a copy.
There should also be a facility whereby a person can countersign if they agree any discharge forms are truthful as to facts rather than selective in remarks in favour of the writer.
One day there may be an article written by someone confirming a breakthrough for a better Mrs May ‘Cohesive Style’ caring community and medical care, but I doubt very much that it will be in my time, sad to say!
Hazel Speed
Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine
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