Since when did playing music through speakers be OK on a hospital ward?

Please complain. It might be a family member of mine in the ward next - do it for other people! I get that the staff might not want the conflict but you need to escalate it high enough up the chain (as outlined above) until you get to the staff member with the skills and pay grade to handle the situation.

It is a certain 'sort' of person who does this.
Just saying.

Anyway, OP, either ask to speak to the Matron, or find her name/number, most NHS hospitals should have this on a sign somewhere. Tell them calmly and politely you are going to make a formal complaint (not just that you might).

Alternatively contact PALS in the morning and say similar.

Either way, it is unacceptable. Not only that it is happening, but that the nurses are allowing it to happen. Unbelievable. They have a duty to provide you with a safe therapeutic environment. They are not doing that. Complain.

This is also why all hospitals should have private rooms.

I know the new ones getting built do, and that doesn't help the people in the older "ward style" hospitals now though.

I love Japan for this. In their national psyche, they have such personable responsibility towards others, and offending or intruding someone is almost criminal to them.

I could've written this. Was in hospital having my baby a few months ago and it was dreadful. Constant phones playing YouTube/music, all conversations conducted via speakerphone, and a personal highlight - one of the other women's partners shouting at his Uber Eats driver for not getting the right ward 😡

It's no overreaction to say that part of me was relieved when I was moved to the HDU - just because I finally got some peace and quiet!

I was on a bus recently and a guy got on, not with a phone on loudspeaker, but with an actual boombox blasting out rap music. He stayed on the bus for about 5 stops then got off. Now that's taking it to another level.

Agreed. I work in a school. I intervene when pupils are being inconsiderate towards others. If a minority of parents complain, then I tell them straight. Fortunately, I am backed by the head. My day to day job is to teach. That doesn’t mean I ignore antisocial behaviour, dealing with it is part of the job.

Yes ... but they don't have the time or energy to deal with such rude people. And they put themselves at risk these days to speak up.

I think it depends on the Sister. If a sister has a real grasp of their job and is supported by their matron, it shouldn't happen as every member of the ward team will know what good care looks like and will be empowered to take action. If this sort of nonsense is nipped in the bud, it doesn't take hold.

Go to the Sister's office and make a fuss. On a neurology ward of all places!

I have experienced this twice in hospital, one on a maternity ward and once during a 19 hour wait in A&E. On the maternity ward, the staff were asked to intervene, but I think they were afraid of the patient's husband (it was his device blaring out a loud action movie in the middle of the night). In A&E, the staff did eventually get the two young men concerned to stop, but only after they had woken up all the dozing patients (it was about 3am). Disgraceful, selfish behaviour at a time when others are vulnerable. The worst kind of people.

But look at schools. If a teacher dares to tell a child off the parent is banging on the door demanding to know why their child has been put in detention.
Well, that’s not true most of the time is it? And if it does happen then so what? Parents can then be told the reason. What is everyone so bloody scared of now? I went to a dog rough school. I remember scary parents marching up the school to have it out with teachers in the 80s, it’s not a new thing. People seemed to cope though.

I was recently in hospital. My 1:1 observations nurses did this repeatedly or spoke to their family on speaker or video call, ate smelly take aways next to me. One even put her feet up, tucked a blanket around her and snored loudly fast asleep so good luck getting them to intervene with another patient.

This doesn't surprise me at all sadly... I was in hospital a couple of years ago actually seriously ill - in the acute medicine ward. Overnight, the nurses and staff in there were dancing up and down the wards with the radio on, singing, giggling, and laughing - and generally messing about, whilst I was seriously ill.

I just wanting to sleep, yet it was like being in the middle of a party. I know it's their work day, but the fact it's NIGHT TIME. From midnight to 7:00 AM they should have been as quiet as they could possibly be. All the patients were trying to sleep, but I had it the worst, as I was in a little room right next to the staff station. (And the fucking radio!)

It was horrific and I ended up (the next day) demanding to be discharged, even though I wasn't well and should have spent 2-3 more days there. Because I couldn't stand a second night in there with the noise and rabble. I was much better in my cosy quiet peaceful bedroom at home. I reckon I would have got worse had I stayed in the hospital.

But look at schools. If a teacher dares to tell a child off the parent is banging on the door demanding to know why their child has been put in detention.

Conflict resolution.... I'd like my nurses to have enough common sense to deal with minor issues without training please. This is not international diplomatics, it's telling a twat to pipe down.

Bring back matron. Hattie Jaques wouldn’t have put up with this shit.

It’s a cop out to say staff shouldn’t have to confront. Staff need to have that authority. Sadly on most wards staff are mainly very young and don’t really seem to understand the concept of peace, rest and recovery. Half the time the nurses are louder than anyone. A healthcare person upthread said “ hospitals are not places for recovery” which when you think about it is completely nuts (although currently true).
It’s the same on public transport because drivers are now told not to intervene. They just stay in the cab and ignore while awful behaviour happens. Not that long ago, when lads behaved badly in the bus the driver would pull over and refuse to drive until they got off, backed up by a load of tutting passengers. Now everyone is apparently too scared/ apathetic/ jobsworth to be arsed doing anything.
OP YANBU.

Conflict resolution.

We found one op!

What makes you think your right to chatter away like schoolgirls trumps others right to peaceful recuperation?

What always gets me is that on posts like this no one ever admits to doing it. It’s like dropping litter, no one admits it’s them yet it clearly happens.

Exactly. There should be signs up in the wards saying use of headphones is essential if playing music / etc on devices. And then a quick verbal ticking off if not adhered to. Super easy.

People really are so selfish though. I stayed in hospital after a bladder op last year and the woman opposite me rang her partner in the middle of the night - 3am every night, several times and talked at full volume. I mean what the actual fuck? It’s literally almost made me feel I’d rather just die quietly at home. Hospital is hell.

@Hateam

I agree with your sentiments too,

It's intrusive and not everyone will have the same taste in music and it's anti social as visitors and patients can't communicate effectively with music quite loud as that too,

If some or few patients want to listen to music? 🎶
they need to have ear plugs on compulsory 🔌 🙄 for rest of the ward's comfort too..

@LittleBearPad I was there for 5 weeks. We did that once. And it didn't disturb the others it was the nurse. Sorry, but we all got on really well. We kept in touch afterwards and everything.
I'm just showing how much it depends on who you're with.

I do agree. But what kind of special training do you think it needs for staff to tell them to turn it off/use headphones?