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

[Hateam]

I'm at my wife's bedside on a neurology ward and twice now other patients have just put the speaker on their phone and played music.

The ward staff seem OK with this.

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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 think patients and visitors should have to sign a form at the hospital door.

Every time they use their speaker they have to donate an organ right there, right then.

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.

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.

YANBU . People can be such jerks.

I had this when my daughter was in hospital for four days, a woman was talking loudly on her phone at 11pm while sick kids were trying to sleep.

I spoke to the nurse who initially was reluctant to say anything until I said that if she didn't then I would, and I was likely not to be as polite as a staff member.

I also agree with making a complaint. They need to be via PALS so they appear on the right reports at governance meetings and then create a trend the trust has to deal with.

On maternity wards, also contact your local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership MNVP who collect feedback and take it directly to senior staff.

Hospitals have a duty to ensure patients have a safe and healing environment, but they need to be forced in many cases unfortunately.

Agreed. I’ve been in France for 16 years, had a baby here and all our family have had various operations. We’ve never been on a ward or even shared rooms: single rooms all the way.

British hospitals sound absolutely grim.

Other than this, I have been very happy with my wife's care.

The nurses that have treated her have been excellent and I am truly grateful.

I think that's unfair. The nurses deal with enough aggression as it is

It’s just rude and self absorbed behaviour. It’s not a surprise though!

I still feel deep disgust and anger towards the selfish man who insisted on having his wife's TV on super loud when I was in the shared maternity recovery ward. They even left it on when they pushed off elsewhere for a bit! 2014 and they called their baby "Fox". Selfish, ignorant man upsetting vulnerable women at a time when they should have been able to sleep. And no, he didn't turn the volume down or use headphones when politely asked to do so.

I would say this has been happening for quite a long time now. When my GP was dying of cancer on a general ward the fuckwit opposite point blank refused to use headphones whilst watching TV. I asked several times but he told me it was his right to do as he pleased. Thankfully a nurse was able to move my GP to a side room for their last 12 hours but it just added a whole level of stress to a stressful situation.

I was in a private room when I had an accident, no idea why, but the nurses’ station was outside my door and they could obviously hear me. They completely ignored me shouting for help-I couldn’t walk and needed a bedpan and more covers, I was freezing, probably in shock. They took over an hour to come in despite having a fine old conversation/laugh.

In the next hospital (I was moved-by DPD, which I found hilarious for plastics) there must have been 10 people crowded round the bed opposite making the hell of a row, using the patient only loo and leaving it filthy, at least 4 of us had major open wounds so needed a clean environment. Drove me nuts.

Please complain to PALS.

We all should.

I have complained to TFL about loud music on tube, busses and the Overground.

It looks like this is one of the promises Susan Hall has made for her London Mayor bid. So politicians will listen.

It's so bloody annoying having some entitled twat invade your personal space with their noise.

So bloody is! We have ‘notorious’ parents who are now only allowed to contact the deputy head because of previous aggression/abusive behaviour towards staff. I don’t work in a rough school. Parents and children are far more entitled than 20 years ago. I saw a meme comparing parental attitudes with the first being parents telling off the children for bad reports and the second being parents telling off teachers for bad reports. I’m keen to leave despite not being near retirement age. It’s no wonder recruitment and retention in teaching is so appalling these days.