N H S can't believe it
this is not a political debate so please don't let it stray
it is just a observation on how the NHS is changing
my son has been in Hospital since last Friday in and out for a number of years. anyway they have now decided to amputate his right leg on Thursday.
Tonight before visiting he text to ask me to take him a pillow 
he is only allowed 2 and one he is using under his leg to relive
the pressure , now I know the NHS is under great pressure but only two pillows per patient per bed can anyone on here beat that
from the NHS
Comments
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Sorry about your son Ruby. Never had any problems with the NHS I have always got what I have asked for, but I am afraid those days seem to have gone. In America he would probably pay for each pillow.
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Thank you Molly & bugs, he's 38 this year and Diebetes is the culprit he was diagnosed 8yrs ago but it was the pillows that made me post
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Sorry to hear of your son's problems. Hope all goes well with the operation.
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Ruby, my cousin had an operation on his back just before Xmas he is still in hospital, he as had problems moving his legs , unfortunately there aren't enough physios to assist him every day, when they do assist him it's only 1hour a day, it's possible that
the cutbacks have caused this. He as to stop in for about 6 months, you would think they would help him to recover quicker, but what do I know.0 -
We lost our older son in 2011 aged 40 with Diebetes complications and yes we have noticed the difference in staff numbers and the system of care, of course there's always very good staff and the not so good staff plus the management and the less said about
them the better.What we find very frustrating are the medical team who DONT comunicate with each other. One will say take this twice a day and another wil say No you should not be taking those, I have in the past got angry and told them to go into a room argue it out then
tell us what they have decide
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Ruby, that's terrible. Your son needs all the care, and the 'accessories' he need to keep him comfortable. Having to face an amputation, and then having to provide your own pillow is just not on!
I hope he finds some relief from his discomfort - and I hope that those who run the NHS in the way it's run now, somehow get their own 'deal' from 'Karma' and have to rely on their own NHS one day.
I worked in the NHS when I was proud to say that. I can only say how sorry I am that it isn't what it was when I first worked there............. when everyone worked for the benefits of patients.
I wish your son everything you would wish him yourself!!!
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When my wife had a stay in hospital I took her a V shaped pillow and a small fan for on her bedside cupboard (it was summer and very warm). The ward had a few fans but not enough.
to be honest I would have took anything in to help her be comfortable, the few pounds it cost was more than worth it to me, they also were useful when she came home.
however I agree that the basics such as pillows should be provided. The bed my wife had was a fully adjustable electric bed that she could adjust herself which helped greatly.
I hope everything goes well for your son. I friend of mine had an amputation below the knee some 15 years ago now, (different reason but a long term problem), and hasnt looked back since.
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Yes same here Whittaker we supply everything he needs without a second thought Even sanwhiches he has to have ready for early hrs has he is prone to many hypers and hypos during the night, the ward couldn't supply any monday night the canteen had sold
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Sorry to hear about your son RT, the pillow thing I'm afraid is quite common, as you say 2 per bed. When I was in hospital I had 2 pillows but they were as flat as a pancake and of little use, I couldn't get comfortable after surgery and asked for more,
give the staff their due they did try but couldn't locate any spares like others my OH brought me one in from home, but they don't
like that on surgical wards due to the risk of infection. Hope everything goes well and he makes a speedy recovery.0 -
I am not under any circumstances against the NHS would not be without it it was to get the point over how it has change over time and under extreme pressure. Customer service if you wish to call can be good and bad in all businesse's some satisfied customer some unstaisfied customers.
It was just to raise the point of how even to the point of an extra pillow how drastic things have become. even a top cancer doctor reported this week that the NHS is crumbling under the pressure put on it by the holiday / tourist patients demanding treatment, so what can we all do to help save the NHS
p s please refrain from making this political
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I'm sorry to read of your son's situation Ruby.
Several years ago you used to get about four pillows and there was a 'set' way of placing them on the bed as I recall, to enable you to sit up comfortably.
Surely, your son should have the two allocated pillows for normal use but, if he needs extra support for his leg, the ward should provide it and not take his allocated pillows.
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Re the NHS ....Our great and wonderful facility to have but sadly misused, abused and in need of a major overhaul.Just to add fire to the argument we are told there is no post code lottery in this treasured facility , try this for size: Following my knee
operation and on my Physio visit I was told I could abandon my arm supported crutches now and just use a walking stick. The Physiotherapist went to fetch me one and asked for my address and postcode. When I gave it to him, his comment was "why are you an
LE postcode not DE" because I live in LE was my answer.. Sorry was the reply, I can only supply DE postcodes we have an allocation for DE and LE falls outside that area.Amazing as I had the operation in a DE postcode and that was outside my residential
LE postcode, please someone explain that to me, SG2.......0 -
I am sorry to hear about your son Ruby. I hope all goes well.
In general I have been happy with my dealings with the NHS. It's just some of the simple basics they seem to fail on. Things that cost very little and should not happen. Three years ago my mum was taken into hospital. In A&E we gave contact numbers, which were lost when she was sent to the ward. Then on every transfer, ward to ward and hospital to hospital they lost them again. In the end we submitted a formal complaint and I assume a lot of others must have as well. They informed us they were working on their communication systems. It seems to have worked, as when she was taken into hospital recently contact numbers followed here on each transfer.
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Very sorry to hear about your son Ruby, hope all goes well. Find it sad that the hospital couldn't let him have another pillow.
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When we visited France, there was a chap selling books as a market stall. Whilst waiting for OH to come out from a shop (it was sunny and I love it), I was stood outside and glanced at the books knowing they would be all in French. Wrong! they were English
books. The chap behind the counter was an English chap who lives in England. Anyway, we got talking and he said that if you're going to get ill, make sure you're in French. He reckons the hospitals in France are THE best, ever. On the menu, he got a half
bottle of red wine for his lunch and his tea as the doctors stated that red wine does you the most good - LOVE IT.
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Yes same here Whittaker we supply everything he needs without a second thought Even sanwhiches he has to have ready for early hrs has he is prone to many hypers and hypos during the night, the ward couldn't supply any monday night the canteen had sold out
WOW, Roobz, so very sorry to hear about your sons problems -- could not the hospital just fold up a blanket & tuck it under the head pillow, releasing one for the leg ?? Its the sort of "Make Do" thing we all do I think.
But as for the Hypers & Hypos occuring over-night in hospital == where the blazes was the Hospitals dedicated Diabetes Team ?? -- on the, thankfully very few, times I've been in hospital in Crewe & Manchester the Dedicated teams have almost out numbered the regular Ward Staff !!
Diabetes UK have a booklet on the treatment/care that diabetics should receive whilst in Hospital , it might be worth ringing* or E Mailing+ them to see if you can get one posted out. Altho' I know it won't help right now, it just might in the Future.
* 0345 123 2399 + careline@diabetes.org.uk
Give the Lad our Best wishes & tell him we will be thinking of him tomorrow & in the future.
Brian
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RT
Sorry to hear about your son.
On the point about the pillows, does not the bed electronically adjust position at the top of the bed to raise the head and shoulders which should mean you shouldn't need extra pillows?
David
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Thank you Brian your very kind as all who have posted
there are good and not so good diabect staff he has been diabetic for 8 yrs now our older son was diabetic for 10 yrs as a family we do know rather a lot about it and the help that's out there but again it can be down to who ! Good or not so good
today for instance his bloods went up to 30+ when that was soughted 2hrs later dropped to 3.2 and this happened while he is on a sliding scale ( insulin by intravenous) they have yet not found a reason after 4 yrs why this is happening he has been diabetic
for 8 yrs his brother was very similarB
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Hello David , and thank you yes he has an electric bed and it does help But my son is on the thin side and it becomes very uncomfortable so extra pillows do help as the hospital can be very warm he has used his bedcover under his leg we all improvise at
some point and when he rang me and asked for the pillow and why it just shocked me that they could'nt rather than wouldent supply one0 -
Hello David , and thank you yes he has an electric bed and it does help But my son is on the thin side and it becomes very uncomfortable so extra pillows do help as the hospital can be very warm he has used his bedcover under his leg we all improvise at
some point and when he rang me and asked for the pillow and why it just shocked me that they could'nt rather than wouldent supply oneWrite your comments here...I'm surprised at this, I work in a hospital nd can't ever see this request been denied, I wonder if there is a breakdown in communication
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Hello David , and thank you yes he has an electric bed and it does help But my son is on the thin side and it becomes very uncomfortable so extra pillows do help as the hospital can be very warm he has used his bedcover under his leg we all improvise at
some point and when he rang me and asked for the pillow and why it just shocked me that they could'nt rather than wouldent supply oneWrite your comments here...I'm surprised at this, I work in a hospital nd can't ever see this request been denied, I wonder if there is a breakdown in communication
Ex NHS myself.
When I had abdominal surgery 10 years ago, I found that the most comfortable position was with the head end of my (non electric) bed propped up. I could have done with extra pillows but none were available, all in use.
Similar story with staff, just not enough of them.
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