Shocking and cruel. How do these people sleep at night?
Yes it appears shocking. I think there is a thread just started on a very similar topic. As ever there are many layers.
Rationing of any treatment on the NHS has been commonplace for years as people live longer and resources fewer.i worked with adults with PMLD for years and the service they received was definitely second class.
Of course those issues more prevalent with Covid. If I remember rightly those that were shielded were told they were given support but the understanding was they would not be admitted to hospital. Ok if your safety could be protected and there was sufficient PPE etc,but we all know how that ended.
I think on another level is that people in care not admitted to hospital and GPs would not go into care homes. I think people forget that all those in receipt of care are not over 70 with dementia. For me the only comfort was knowing that my care home at least had registered nurses. Those that didnt...
DNR is a complex issue. There have been occasions when it has been put on a patients notes inappropriately. When my father moved in with me he was over 90. We had to register him with my doctor. Dad had dementia but not advanced, he was enjoying life and physically hale and hearty. The surgery had a GP allocated to older people and the first conversation was about DNR. His bedside manner wasnt brilliant and he was bluntly persistent to the point we were shocked and used to refer to him as Dr Death! It was only when discussing with my own GP I understood the situation. Basically it was a nicety I was asked as medics can put on file regardless of next of kins wishes including POA etc! Then you have to consider what it means to have CPR, it would indeed have done my father more harm. It didnt mean he wouldnt receive any treatment.
To not admit people to intensive care regardless is another matter. From recent articles what is more concerning is the damage done by the 111 service which during the height of the pandemic was not fit for purpose consisting of poorly trained staff making decisions they weren't qualified to with no access to GPs. Many people died at home from all sorts of illnesses,not just covid. Apparently those issues have now been resolved. Hmm.
I think it's easy to forget how we felt in early months of the pandemic,so much has happened since. Recent articles have reminded me that should I be unfortunate enough to catch covid not only were the odds of severe illness/death higher but my likelihood of receiving appropriate medical care lower.
Which again makes the protection at work more vital.
Last night I was watching Johnathan Ross and not for the first time struck by the social distancing measures in place for people who at casual glance not at particular risk if they got the virus. The assumption again is they must be protected from it. Contrasting this with the gaslighting of vulnerable employees in a class room who are actively denied protection is something that will never cease to outrage me.