• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Terrible Hospital admin

Status
Not open for further replies.
The issue is not with any computer system. The OP has already stated the letter had the correct address on it. The mistake happened with the address on the envelope which was written by hand. They had put a number 6 instead of a number 9. A very easy mistake to make when they are sending out hundreds of letters a day.

The outcome of such mistake is now the neighbour at number 9 knows that their daughter has diabetes. No big thing. In fact, in time it could come as a blessing. Neighbour sees child acting "odd" realises it may have something to do with her diabetes and rolls in to save the day.

And yes, I am a parent of 2 girls. Yes, I have diabetes myself. And yes, I have a child with diabetes.
 
It really is quite difficult. I'm thinking...

Maybe the person who addressed the envelope is type 2 diabetic, maybe they were beginning to experience hypoglycaemia, because their supervisor told them to finish what they were doing before they could go to lunch. Maybe a momentary lapse due to incipient hypo caused this mishap.

This is a possibility. It's called 'walking a mile in another's shoes before judging them.'

I am a parent x 4.
 
mahola said:
The issue is not with any computer system. The OP has already stated the letter had the correct address on it. The mistake happened with the address on the envelope which was written by hand.
Click to expand...

I realise that. The point I was trying to make - however badly put - was the creation of an attitude of accuracy and checking one's work routinely, whatever the method of creating the document: computer, word processor, or by hand, the principle is the same. Yes, mistakes do happen, and in most cases they are mistakes, and not done carelessly or with a couldn't-care-less approach. Perhaps the person was feeling unwell, or in process of dealing with a BS hypo. Sorry, but that doesn't make it any easier for the person on the receiving end - they have no idea what's going on at the source. (Personally, I don't see how a 6 and a 9 look anything like eachother - but that's just my view.)

I don't see that the OP, or me for that matter, is making any judgements - we are both too far distant from the origin of the mistake. I have offered a point of view, as have others in this thread. We are none of us in a position to judge how or why it happened. That's why, in my opinion, it needs to be raised with those closer to the origin, who can make a judgement and take appropriate action, if any.



Now I'm definitely off my soapbox !
 
There is a moral to this tale.
Put the printed "mail merge" (program or App) letter in a clear panel envelope. Thus no "human error"..
Probably tricky to find the "temp" that got the 9 & 6'mixed up.?
 
Salvia said:
I realise that. The point I was trying to make - however badly put - was the creation of an attitude of accuracy and checking one's work routinely, whatever the method of creating the document: computer, word processor, or by hand, the principle is the same. Yes, mistakes do happen, and in most cases they are mistakes, and not done carelessly or with a couldn't-care-less approach. Perhaps the person was feeling unwell, or in process of dealing with a BS hypo. Sorry, but that doesn't make it any easier for the person on the receiving end - they have no idea what's going on at the source. (Personally, I don't see how a 6 and a 9 look anything like eachother - but that's just my view.)

I don't see that the OP, or me for that matter, is making any judgements - we are both too far distant from the origin of the mistake. I have offered a point of view, as have others in this thread. We are none of us in a position to judge how or why it happened. That's why, in my opinion, it needs to be raised with those closer to the origin, who can make a judgement and take appropriate action, if any.



Now I'm definitely off my soapbox !
Click to expand...
Thank you, which is exactly what I'll do on Monday morning. What on earth has this got to do with judging someone. A mistake was made so I'll definitely draw the hospital's attention to it.
 
mahola said:
The issue is not with any computer system. The OP has already stated the letter had the correct address on it. The mistake happened with the address on the envelope which was written by hand. They had put a number 6 instead of a number 9. A very easy mistake to make when they are sending out hundreds of letters a day.

The outcome of such mistake is now the neighbour at number 9 knows that their daughter has diabetes. No big thing. In fact, in time it could come as a blessing. Neighbour sees child acting "odd" realises it may have something to do with her diabetes and rolls in to save the day.

And yes, I am a parent of 2 girls. Yes, I have diabetes myself. And yes, I have a child with diabetes.
Click to expand...
No biggie to you we are not all the same. It shouldn't have happened that's the point. I'll definitely raise it with them and my dd's DSN. In the hope it will at least make them more careful etc.
 
The local Queensland Health public hospital in Bundaberg, send all of their letters for appointments etc. with printed address labels on them.

No mistakes made that way.
 
Tipetoo said:
The local Queensland Health public hospital in Bundaberg, send all of their letters for appointments etc. with printed address labels on them.

No mistakes made that way.
Click to expand...

Well, I can assure you that if I worked in the Queensland Health public hospital in Bundaberg, sending out letters to patients, then sooner or later I would carefully apply an address label to an envelope, then (equally carefully) put the wrong letter into that envelope.

No system is perfect, and neither am I.
 
Type1asem said:
No biggie to you we are not all the same. It shouldn't have happened that's the point. I'll definitely raise it with them and my dd's DSN. In the hope it will at least make them more careful etc.
Click to expand...

I never said it should have happened. I just don't see the need to go down the formal complaint route.
 
Type1asem said:
What on earth has this got to do with judging someone.
Click to expand...

Well, you did choose to title this thread 'Terrible Hospital Admin' and then you used the words 'fuming' and 'livid' in your original post.

I don't usually associate those words with non-judgementalism.
But no biggie. Not worth making an issue out of it. :)
 
Of course that's how I felt as it's hardly efficient addressing an envelope incorrectly.
I'm done, as I said I will report it.
 
Brunneria said:
Well, I can assure you that if I worked in the Queensland Health public hospital in Bundaberg, sending out letters to patients, then sooner or later I would carefully apply an address label to an envelope, then (equally carefully) put the wrong letter into that envelope.

No system is perfect, and neither am I.
Click to expand...
In twenty years of being a outpatient at the SOPD at the public hospital, I have never missed an appointment.

So their system works better than the NHS's apparently.
 
Tipetoo said:
In twenty years of being a outpatient at the SOPD at the public hospital, I have never missed an appointment.

So their system works better than the NHS's apparently.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that just make you a more reliable patient? :D:cool:
 
Jaylee said:
Doesn't that just make you a more reliable patient? :D:cool:
Click to expand...
I do not know about that, there was a lot of negotiating morning appointments a bit over two years ago.

The appointment mob would only give me afternoon appointments, which I used to refuse as I could only get there in the mornings between 8:30 to 11:00 am.
 
Tipetoo said:
I do not know about that, there was a lot of negotiating morning appointments a bit over two years ago.

The appointment mob would only give me afternoon appointments, which I used to refuse as I could only get there in the mornings between 8:30 to 11:00 am.
Click to expand...

I prefer morning appointments myself. Around the 8.30 to 9 slot.? Less likely for them to be running behind & the parking's easier too! ;)
 
In the absence of any moderation, could we please get back on topic... The OP is a new member and in her/his opening post was clear that they wanted to make a complaint and asked if anyone had any experience of the process.

They didn't ask for sarcasm, humour or how things work on the other side of the world. I'm ashamed at some of the replies here, given that they are directed at a new member, who is asking for advice on a matter which refers to a 4 year old child
 
OK then?

If I was to pursue any sort of complaint levied at the NHS. I would be looking into some sort of "ombudsman" that deals with this sort of thing..?
Stating a breach of confidentiality & the potential of lost correspondence regarding health matters & future appointments appertaining to the aforementioned...
The NHS is quite hot on missed appointments right now!
 
This subject has been exhausted. I hope that whatever the OP decides to do they will get satisfaction.
Type1asem said:
Of course that's how I felt as it's hardly efficient addressing an envelope incorrectly.
I'm done, as I said I will report it.
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top