Do nursing staff not wash patients anymore or change sheets?

[keepswimming38]

My daughter has been admitted to hospital with meningitis. She’s on an infectious diseases ward. I’ve been by her side most of the day for 3 days and despite her not being able to move as she is so weak, not one nurse has asked her if she wants to freshen up, have a wash, change her sheets. I’ve done it for her. Is this usual? The nurses are sat next to their little computer trolleys, or chatting at nurses station, so not all run off their feet I would say.

Is she bedbound? If not then they’d expect her to go and shower/wash herself. Has she actually asked for help?

RTFT or at least the OP’s posts.

She's bedbound, unwell and can barely speak.

I'm afraid this was my experience also - the stroke ward was excellent with nurses that truly went above and beyond for very vulnerable patients but the general wards were bordering on negligent and, yes, there was a lot of standing around chatting at the nurses station while patients, without speech, that could not even feed themselves were simply left unfed and their meals cleared away, untouched, by catering staff.

You are aware not all nurses work on wards aren’t you? Many nurses carry out procedures that were once done by doctors - eg endoscopy? Urodynamics? Respiratory specialists, palliative specialists, heart failure specialists Degrees and high level education is essential

Youre basing your opinions of nurses after a few visits to hospital wards when in fact nurses have diverse roles to play

I can only "speak as I find" and no this wasn't just 'a few visits'.
I didn't see much actual nursing being done at all on the wards I visited.

The only "real" nursing I came across was on the district where those nurses worked really hard.

Sorry to hear about your daughter OP and hope that she is on the road to recovery

I used to change beds as a nurse manager as did the manager who was ward based who was above me. I actually can’t get over all these nurses who apparently don’t change beds. I don’t think it’s that nurses think they are above such jobs maybe they are so understaffed now they don’t have time.

I was in hospital for 12 days in Feb 2021 with Covid. A nurse washed me on the first day and brought me everything I needed to wash myself after that. My DD brought clean nightwear for me and took used items away for washing. Obviously she couldn’t see me. I can’t remember how often the sheets were changed but I’m sure they were. The staff were wonderful and I’ll never forget the kindness I received.

I have no degree, I sat the dc test as not even ond o level, , I gained my rgn, I was also a respiratory , cardiac and palliative care nurse. When visiting wards I would not hesitate helping a patient wash, go to the toilet, have fresh sheets and bedclothes.

I am a district nurse - my team are skilled and work incredibly hard and often go above and beyond

It’s appalling that meals can be delivered ,left out of reach of the patient , then collected untouched. It’s neglect

Omg, that is disgusting...How very sad for the people, who when the needed the help the most, they didn't get it. I am a retired nurse and it upsets me very much what l have read on this post...

It's all too common I'm afraid, drinks too, left to go cold or the jug is on the locker out of reach. Staff often put 200mla on a fluid chart when the drink is put down instead of when, if at all, it's actually drunk.

I had to change my own sheets post c section. I think it depends on which hospital and the staff members sadly

I had a c section 4 months ago and was washed in the bed by a midwife when I was still immobile. The rest of the postnatal care was pretty awful though!

She’s 20, bedbound and very unwell. Seriously how about the nurses provide the nursing care they are actually paid to provide?

YANBU OP says a lot for the state of the NHS that people seem to think this is acceptable. Hope your daughter recovers well and is home soon. You must be worried sick

As an NHS staff member: if basic care is not happening and staff are rude like that you have options: I advise people wanting to complain. Pals if they have an office or email/contact number( they were great at my last trust), care opinion or nhs choices web pages, ask to speak to the ward manager.

I always want to give patients and families the kind of care ( in my role) i’d expect for me or my family. Yes it’s busy and short staffed. But standards of care are basics.

I actually heard student nurses question why they needed to learn how to make beds etc when it was the Hca/housekeeper job. Some staff defo think that certain tasks are beneath them.

Not knowing how to make a bed is nothing. I've worked with nq nurses who can't record a manual pulse or blood pressure.

Don't think OPs daughter is on paeds

My dad died in hospital recently. Sheets were changed regularly by health care assistants. They also offered to help him wash, but didn't insist if he said he didn't want to.

That's why I also mentioned adult wards just to cover both bases....

YANBU @keepswimming38, I hope your DD is on the mend. I have spent a lot of time in hospitals over the last 10 years, and have rarely been left more than 24 hours without clean sheets on the bed. Each morning, I've been asked "Will you be having a shower or shall I bring you a bowl of warm water to have a wash?" Even when I've been in ITU, and showers aren't available, I've always been given a bed bath and the opportunity to put on fresh PJs.

In all my years of nursing I’ve literally never met a single nurse who wouldn’t make a bed. Ever . They wouldn’t have survived it . Sorry but I actually don’t believe this.