1200 dead allegedly. Could it be worse? It is, because Mid Staff's hospital may be the hospital damned in a public enquiry, but don't for one minute think it is the only British hospital where old people are neglected and mistreated. 5 others with abnormally high death rates are to be investigated. Relatives want heads to roll. So far no one is held accountable.
Our NHS, a much loved institution? and national treasure, is sick. Or at least the hospitals are. Any of us who have had the misfortune to take our elderly loved ones into one of our hospitals are likely to have seen it. Patients so thirsty they drink from dirty flower vases. Old men sleeping through the meal put at their bedside because no one woke them. The catering contractor takes the food away untouched and the old people slowly starve. An old lady crying because she went to the toilet in her bed, because the health care assistants were on their break and playing with their smart phones. Sloppy nursing, missing details. No one has lost their job so far.
If some of the stuff in the paragraph above sounds personal it is. Poor mum! This blog is a publication so where I lack hard evidence I must be careful. Sorry sis, I have to write this or I would truly be a useless blogger. Mum spent time in two British NHS hospitals (unnamed) at the end of her life. Accident and Emergency at the first found that as well as injuries from her fall she had suffered a minor heart attack. They moved her to a cardiac ward and efficiently treated that. They didn't investigate her swollen abdomen or confusion despite being told by relatives that this was all new. They missed the tumour the size of a melon in her abdomen. They discharged her to have another fall. In the second hospital on a dementia ward she was verbally and physically abused. Since I do not have evidence to sue, I will not name this hospital, ward, or individual either. Am I angry? You bet your life I am ! Am I the only one? Not by thousands apparently. Two close friends have similar recent experiences. Respecting their privacy, no names.
The legal actions will follow now, in an avalanch I imagine. It may be the only way the situation will change. Sorry won't cut it. I will never forget our poor little mum terrified, particularly of us speaking up, and her being left alone with her tormentor. We treat our dogs better!
If this post has a hard edge, good. I'll watch the campaign carefully. Right now as a single, middle aged man, I wouldn't want taking to a British hospital alone. I would want someone riding shot gun while I slept also! If I am taking ill, I pray it is during Summer, when I am usually in Sweden!
This blog is about a journey through life, and what happens along the way. This is like walking up to a train wreck, but with more people dead.
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