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Absolutely appalled, in fact gobsmacked really. The treatment you received was like something out of a stalag. Do make your complaint loud.
 
Disgusting treatment, you shout and shout long and loud because nobody should be treated this way. What an awful hospital, where is it?

Ali
 
I don't know if I'm allowed to "name and shame" so apologies to the moderators if this is against the rules:
Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital.

wiflib - what are the NMC and GMC? Would you mind talking me through how to go about this kind of complaint? I have no idea what to do to be honest; but now that I read back what happened I don't think PALS is the way to go.
Saying that, an elderly lady next to me had been brought in with pneumonia and had been there for 2 weeks - her daughter had been told nothing at all for those 2 weeks and was going out of her mind with worry as her mother hadn't been getting better.
The reason her mother wasn't getting better? She developed cancer. They only told her on Thursday. She went to PALS to complain about that and about the "treatment" her mother was getting. They were meant to call her to discuss things and didn't.

The other awful thing happened to another elderly lady - she kept accidentally pulling her cannula out and naturally there was blood all over her gown and the sheets. They changed the sheets after a while (and after a bit of b*tching and eye-rolling) but they didn't give her a new gown.


Thank you for all of the kind replies; you guys really are awesome.
 
BF - how are you feeling today?? Is your new medication working?? You poor, poor thing, you must be feeling so traumatised by all that you have been through and by what you had to witness whilst in hospital.

I totally agree with wiflib, you need to go higher, not to PALS. NMC = http://www.nmc-uk.org/ and GMC = http://www.gmc-uk.org/ and contact the media, name and shame that hospital and staff.

I hope you can relax over the weekend, do things that make you feel better, I am sure hubby will do things for you, but I are say he is as traumatised as you are, its been a worrying time for both of you.

Big hugs from me x x
 
Hi Whitby,

I'm feeling better today - very tired and drained.

I'm planning on editing some photos I took about 2 weeks ago that have been patiently waiting for me to get myself in gear and I'll be giving my Facebook page an overhaul as well I think. And I think a lot of sleeping is on the cards :lol:

I feel awful for hubby - he's been brilliant through all of this but I know it was really hard for him knowing that the hospital wasn't doing what it was meant to.
 
Isn't it wonderful when our NHS is working at it's best!!!!! What appalling treatment. I hope you get somewhere with the Patient Liaison if only to help anyone else who finds themselves in your situation. Not only that I would be writing to my MP and telling him to earn his outrageous salary and perks and get someone kicked up the proverbial. Glad that you are returning to some semblance of normality -whatever normal is! :thumbup:
 
wiflib said:
Forget PALS and go straight to your local MP, the chairman of the hospital, the NMC and the GMC. Putting aside the shocking 'care' you got that could, potentially, have led to your death, the amount of money they have wasted not actually looking after you is absolutely appalling.

I read your message when you first posted it and wrote a reply. I deleted it and decided it was best to wait a little while longer to compose a tamer response and I am now doing so through gritted teeth.

The NHS at it's worst. How DARE they waste precious resources and risk peoples health in such a blase manner. In real life I have what Robin Williams calls a kaka mouth and I have made great use of this skill in the last few hours.

Oh yes, tell the press too.

wiflib
Click to expand...


Hi, BF - glad you survived all that!

I agree completely with Wiflib - even to the bad language!

You have written your story out in great detail for us while it was still fresh in your mind. Print off that post and send it round to everyone you can think of, including your local newspaper.

The bottom line on this, is that they could have killed you. How many others have died?

This really needs investigating.

Also give a copy directly into the hand of your GP, and the consultant when you see him. Don't expect them to comment immediately, but they really need to know.

Hope things get better from now on. :D

Viv 8)
 
That is one hell of a saga Natalie but I'm glad you made it home in one piece and hope the Victoza is sorting things out for you :)

Like Viv and Wiflib say you should really make one hell of a stink if you feel up to it. Take care.
 
The treatment that you've had is beyond belief! They have risked your life by not treating you when you first were admitted, you can't ignore allergic reactions like that. I hope that you get somewhere with a complaint, you need to know that if you ever need to go to hospital again that you will be cared for as you should be.

So good to know that your now at home and hopefully the new medication will work for you. (((HUGS)))

Ann
 
Thank you everyone :D

I've just called the GMC who can't help, but have given me the numbers for the three places that can:
The NMC to complain about the nursing staff
The Health Profession Council to complain about the ambulance crew
And PALS to complain about the general treatment

They have said if that doesn't get me anywhere I can try the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman but all they can do is make sure it can't happen again.

Does anyone know how I would go about making a complain to my local MP and is there anyone else I should be talking to?
 
Do complain.
The hospital that you describe is I think readily identifiable. (well the diabetes bit is!) It's a big place and obviously individual staff and
My parents have both spent a lot of time there recently. They have had various joints replaced, eye problems, a kidney infection and heart attack.My father spent many weeks in the cardiac wards, prior to and after a valve replacement. On least 2 occasions they have been admitted by ambulance and A&E. Sometimes I think it's their second home. In all but one case their care had been good and at times excellent.
The one exception was a 'geriatric' ward where my mother spent time waiting for an 'intermediate' care placement. There were unfeeling and uncaring staff (typical things you read about: drinks and alarm bell left out of reach, insufficient help at meal times, not bringing bedpans so that incontinence becomes a distressing reality and one member of staff in particular reducing her to tears ) We did complain and at least one member of staff was disciplined. I'm not certain that the ward has improved, I think it is difficult to staff (the person who was most at fault was not a trained nurse) and that probably is the root of the problems.
 
Contact details for all MPs are on http://www.parliament.gov.

Just click through until you find your MP. The problem you may have there is that emails and envelopes are opened by staff, so you have to make sure it gets through to the Member.

Copying the whole email on to your local newspaper, and also saying you have done this very clearly in the main body of the text, should get the message in front of the elected eyes.

You could also copy it to various health ministers - eg Paul Burford (? I think that's right?)

If you find out where the MPs local office is, you could also phone and ask when his/her surgeries are. I stress also - preferably about 24 hours after the email will have been received.

If the MP has an email address for parliament and for the constituency office - copy it to both! Just one email - put every address in the "copy to" bar so that everybody knows who else has seen it.

Then sit back and wait for the proverbial to hit the fan - your local paper won't ignore it.

Copy it to the hospital Chief Administrator as well!

What did we do before emails?

Viv 8)
 
Viv you are STAR! Thank you for that, I'll get my email head on and get that sent first thing tomorrow morning.

So far so good on the Victoza; stomach cramps, sickness and...other things...aside.
I'm on the starting dose of 0.6 so goodness knows how bad I'll feel when I go up to 1.2 next week!!
 
My pleasure, BF!

Without wishing to blow my own trumpet too much, anyone who gives an intelligent retired female a computer, internet access and an email facility deserves all they get... :lol: :thumbup: :wink:

Viv 8)

aka Disgusted of Wensleydale :angel: :wink:
 
Your treatment has been disgraceful
I sincerely hope you are going to complain through your local PALS organisation. If you are not sure how, contact the Diabetes UK advocacy service. They are usually very good.
In addition, check out whether your hospital subscribes to the "Think Glucose "initiative. If they do, they've broken practically all the principles that initiative teaches.
You need to make a big fuss over this. Next time, they might kill someone.
On a positive note. I doubt you are allegic to ALL insulins. It's worth getting you diabetes care team to look at all types for you. Animal, Human[recombinant] insulin and analogues. They should be able to find you something. It might simply be something else, such as a stabiliser that's causing the problem. Again, if they are not helpful, the advocacy service is there.

As to allergies;don't be surprised if you feel tired for at least a week.I have a very rare allergy called Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis. I had a bad attack last week and was wiped out for pretty much the whole week. And Iwasn't bad enough to need the hospital.
 
Hello BF, So glad your back but, saddened to hear of the awful treatment you received at the hospital. Yes you should take this as far as you can to the highest levels. The press, though I don't like them, should know about this and any local councillors, and MPs.
I hope you continue to improve with the insulin, and that you and your hubby get some piece of mind now. It all beggars belief, I wanted to cry when I read your story. Keep well, Kate x
 
Thank you for the lovely messages - I think I'd have gone a bit bonkers without this forum!!

So far my waking blood sugars have been in single figures, usually around 7-ish so I'm pretty happy with that :D
I've near enough lost my appetite (which is what the Victoza does) and I'm only on the low dose...When I go up next week I'm a bit worried I won't eat at all :lol:
I will keep a close eye on things just in case as I know I could be in danger of hypos with the reduced appetite.

ETA - I have gotten all of my information together (dating back to June 10th!) and am sending it all to various different people tomorrow morning.
I will keep you all updated whenever I hear anything.
 
OMG!!!
I can't believe how badly you were treated.
The list just goes on & on!! You could show your email to PALS - save you writing it all again - the staff should be made to read it too & see just what you went through.
I have serious allergies (as I've mentioned before) in fact I've had an anaphylaxis myself today. I have to always carry a couple of epipens- because of previous bad treatment at the hands of some paramedics & the fact that I am SO allergic to latex & A&E depts are full of latex- I tend to use my epipen & then stay at home unless I feel another reaction coming on.
I find a lot of paramedics - although generally I think they are fantastic - don't know too much about anaphylaxis. Mine manifests in different ways & I am often told I'm having panic attacks etc etc - I do know what's happening as it happens to me weekly!!! I can't believe they left you alone & unmonitored in A&E - that's when you were seriously at risk.
Appalling when you can't get a 'diet' that supports your health when you are in hospital. So much of it is so appalling I could just go on & on.
 
Hanadr- sorry to hijack post but I also have Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis - that's what happened to me this morning - was walking the dogs in the woods, it started to rain so I stupidly took a short cut up a steep hill!! Had to use my epipen & my son had to come & find me. Have slept since & am about to go back to sleep - I know what you mean - I always sleep for 24 hours & am shattered for days!! Never met anyone with EIA before - was told by a doc in A&E that there was no such thing!! Had to tell him to go & Google it!!!
 
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