Hospital rant - AIBU that this is not acceptable

[Tiredandfedup12]

DC has a life threatening illness that requires 24 hour care - daily iV and iV meds as well as other meds.
we were admitted to hospital Friday night and it’s now sunday Night so on our third night.
we are STILL waiting for her medications to be prescribed - her daily usual medications.
I have chased and chased. Nurse has just come in to say that it now won’t be done again tonight.
AIBU that this is ridiculous ?

OP, @Beefcurtains79 and others affected. It is awful and you shouldn’t have to make a fuss to be treated respectfully and safely.

I think this is largely a consequence of short staffing and ‘lesser’ grades employed to replace higher paid grades, as PP observed above.

@mummeeee she is an older DC to now not as old as yours but not a toddler anymore doesn’t seem to settle for her but she does have a central line but is cardiac so viruses always hit.

yeh it will be 72 hours by the time the consultants come but the system never updates until mornings here.

I realise it’s now morning 🤣🤣

Good luck OP 🤞

Hi @Tiredandfedup12 The only way IMO is up kick up a huge fuss, which I appreciate is exhausting and stressful and obviously you don’t want to create a horrible atmosphere for your child who is essentially relying on these people. To strike a balance I would convey I am very upset and worried rather than angry, cry and say you are panicking to as many staff as possible until they adddress it. Nhs is terrible and it’s scandalous these things are allowed to happen. Hope you’re ok.

True. But it is. They don't have enough staff. If you're safe and ready to go home and they don't need the bed then you'll be last on the list. Very frustrating I know.

I have never heard of newly delivered mothers waiting in corridors, did you not have a bed on the post- natal ward or at least a chair in the lounge ?

I remember that very well 10 years ago with a visitor from forrin who had a badly broken bone requiring surgery.

their medication was taken off them and not given. including the insulin! for diabetes.
it took a diabetes seizure for it to be re-instated.
and we were there and in constant dialog with the staff on the ward.

not to mention the food and drink placed just out of reach of patients and the absolutely awful state of toilets and washrooms.

makes you really frightened if you think about people who have no one to advocate for them.

wishing you and your lovely dd all the best!

Hey op, hope things move quickly today and if all ok you get to go home. You are clearly a great mum, really dedicated. She’s lucky to have you fighting her corner.

I see and so sorry about the viruses always being a problem.

You are doing a great job under extremely difficult circumstances. I can completely imagine how it has been. (I know that doesn't help much but I am in my kitchen - but also remembering some of my toughest hospital stays and sending you strength and peace and rest.)

@MariaLuna the NHS is not free. It is funded in spades by the people.

Thank you
most important meds have been given now and her consultant is attending this week so there will defo be a conversation !

And as a nurse I would be physically going and finding a doctor to get them prescribed. Which is what I've done before when the sho/reg keep saying they're too busy to come, etc.

Which has happened for one night shift maybe but being there for two days and not sorted is mind blowing! I get it was the weekend but even so.

And if that didn't work I would be escalating to the hospital at night manager.

But I do agree I wouldn't give if not prescribed (I would be sacked), but I'm pretty sure I'd get them prescribed.

Disgusting comment - how long do you expect OP to wait?!?

For goodness sake, "Your DD is not the only one in hospital" is no excuse. If you were going in to give birth, would you expect to be told that you were not the only one in hospital, you'd have to cross your legs till the staff had time to get around to you? Did you miss the fact that OP's DD has a life-threatening illness?

Call PALS, say you are going to have to call in your solicitor. IME they jump into action at that. Surely this is blatant medical negligence withholding medication? I can recommend an excellent lawyer.

See your DC has the meds now. You should not have to put up with this extra stress , it’s inhumane and would not happen in European hospitals. Hope you are both home soon.

I work in a hospital so sadly what you describe doesn’t surprise me. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with it. I would have expected things to be better in paediatrics! I do believe the problem is largely the staffing levels at the weekend but it shouldn’t be that way. I’m a mum now and my heart goes out to you. I am glad your DD has had the most vital meds and I wish her a speedy recovery! Hope you can get home soon. Please make sure this is reported so the ward can investigate and hopefully improve in future.

Unfortunately much NHS provision is staffed and funded as though it was Monday to Friday 9 to 5 provision. It is not just the shortage of beds ( though of course that is a huge issue) that causes delay and backlogs.

Dreadful level of care and I say this as an NHS nurse. I am embarrassed at the weekends as literally nothing happens that may be considered 'basic' by management. It is an absolute headache getting patients usual drugs prescribed, it seems if you come in as an emergency that is all the Drs concentrate on.
I cannot tell you the time I have wasted attempting to get important meds prescribed, things like insulin or BP meds. We then have sicker patients to do with as we lose control of their ongoing medical issues.
Weekends are a write off in the NHS sure, they still do emergency surgery and scans but nothing else happens.

I feel it is a Monday afternoon to Friday afternoon service. It takes until Monday PM to get the service running fully.

I hope your dd is able to go home soon, she is lucky to have you with her. If you have the energy I would suggest contacting PALS.

Pals are excellent. You must contact them

It's scary that we aren't even into the months winter pressures truly bite (jan for us) but things are already fucked. So sorry you had to go through that, it is unacceptable but sadly will be more commonplace as staffing issues continue to cause chronic problems. I find it really tough being a nurse when stuff like this happens as I won't administer anything that hasn't been prescribed by protocol to protect myself and my PIN even if i know its safe. Please do complain to PALS, staff would appreciate it too as far too often trusts aren't bothered about our complaints but they do take patients more seriously (albeit sadly doesn't usually enact much tangible change).

Hope your child is on the road to recovery.

Sorry for your awful experience. I am unhappily a frequent flyer - albeit because admitting staff won't listen and we get into a repetitive cycle where, what should be a prescription and discharge becomes in-patient stay for a week.
Just wanted to flag that advocacy isn't enough. My local hospital - in outer London - covers a population where many/most have English as a second or third language. Being polite and articulate is of no advantage when the staff simply aren't used to it.
Fellow patient in the Emergency Department who was continually vomiting required hydrocortisone for Adrenal Insufficency/Addison's Disease - was provided with tablets that she couldn't keep down rather than IV/IM that she needed.
Staff told her to use her own IV/IM supplies as they weren't prepared to make a repeat request to the pharmacy. The ED at that hospital is simply unsafe.

Thank you so much for your service and your post. The gaslighting to patients and staff alike is terrifying.

The NHS was never free.
It was and is paid for in everyone's taxes.

It was free at the point of delivery which means that irrespective of how little or how much you might earn, you still get the same level of care.

The unpopular opinion of having to pay for it would either be through introducing health insurance schemes that brings into play a private health service (a two tier health service) and I would urge you as a country that has this, to try as much as possible not to go down this path, or to increase your taxes and have that money ringfenced for health.