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.

21 years in the NHS . You don’t have to believe it but it’s happened more than once in my experience. More recently too.

21 years... how many beds have you seen being made properly by HCP's?

Some context pls.

I’m not in the uk I’m in Ireland but certainly over here a student nurse would know not to make comments like that . They would be putting themselves at risk of failing their placement. In fact I would go so far as to say it’s the opposite over here , student nurses spend a ridiculous amount of time doing unpaid work that is the the remit of a hca such as making beds, washing beds , specialing people etc.Saves the government a fortune tbh.

I was replying to another post as per the quote…..

Completely agree with you. Years ago and even now the majority of students absolutley work their socks off and would be keen to do anything. But you will get some students and even staff nurses that think bed making, providing/food and drinks is beneath them. Which is sad as healthcare should be holistic.

it’s like some people have never actually been in a hospital and can’t tell the difference between an HCA and a nurse by their uniform. Any nurse I’ve seen while in Hospital is working their bloody socks off they’re doing really complicated things that an HCA can’t do. So an HCA does those things. It’s like some of you saying you know the doctor should be able to find spare pair of socks or brushing their hair or whatever.

One of the issues is the shortage of HCA's on some wards. HCA's can't wash patients or change beds if they aren't there in the first place or can't get through everyone in one day if there's only one or two for the whole ward.

On each warf it usually has a whiteboard where it tells you how many nurses HCA’s et cetera should be on duty to and how many actually are so before you make comments perhaps it would be a good idea to have a look at the staffing situation and complain to the right person

In my experience, it usually just said who the nurse in charge was but other than that it was just first names. It can be confusing if you are worried about your loved one and aren't sure how things work or who to talk to.

If you are there long enough, you do learn how it all works. Perhaps some wards need to be more clear with their whiteboards and/or with what the different coloured uniforms mean.