So who the hell is in charge of Butlins then?

[twogorgeousboys]

I need to write a very strong letter to the Chief Exexutive of Butlins, but having real trouble finding out who that is.

Whenever I ask for help on Mumsnet, someone comes to the rescue - can anyone enlighten me?

[misdee]

can i ask what the pills were? i cant understand how sdomeone on heart meds would leave them behind in the 1st place. (dh is on loads of heart meds and always know how many are in packets, where they are and if one is missing, one rolled under the cooker the other day and i had to drag it out so he could dispose of it so the kids wouldnt get hold of it)

Someone has slipped up majorly imo. my kids are very good about meds, know not to take things, and not to pick up anything, but thats ebcause they have grown up with dh taking medication twice a day. i know if one of them found a packet of pills (blister pack or bottle) but i know most children arent bought up the same as mine. even if they found a packet of pills somewhere which should have meant to have been cleaned i would want some answers and at least a written apology and a full/partial refund.

[twogorgeousboys]

Thank you so much beachyhead. Can now write my very reasoned letter - its a couple of weeks on now so the steam has stopped coming out of my ears.

[beachyhead]

You could also cc. to Richard Bates Operations Director.

[beachyhead]

His details are:
John Cook
Chairman
Bourne Leisure Ltd
1, Park Lane
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 4YL

Tel: 01442 230300

Fire away!!!

[CountessDracula]

Surely Butlins is vicariously liable for the actions (or lack of action) of it's employees

For eg

if you rented a car which had a faulty brake cable, it was one person's responsibility to inspect the cars and ensure they were roadworthy but they had an off day and hadn't noticed. Your car goes over a cliff and kills your children. You wouldn't say that it was just the mechanic's fault, you would sue the car hire company.

Now fortunately in this case the pills were relatively harmless and the child didn't ingest them. But equally had you rented that hire car in Holland where there are no hills/cliffs you may not have fallen prey to the dodgy brake cable.

Next time it could be a bottle of ecstacy and kill the child.

[twogorgeousboys]

Thats exactly it sis.

[twogorgeousboys]

Nickinha - I understand what you are saying. I don't want to see the member of staff responsible for the room cleaning sacked - I'm not a vindictive person, after all, it clearly was a mistake, not a deliberate act. I will be making this clear in my letter.


It is the attitude of senior staff over the matter that is very wrong. This is what I want to take up with someone who has some real clout.

Bad things, or potentially bad things can happen anywhere, but its how you are treated afterwards and how the incident is responded to that makes a difference. I was really shocked that the Site Manager was stood a few feet away from me and after being told what had happened, did not bother to come and speak to me. Some words of support would have gone a long way.

It was my first visit to Butlins and there were lots of things about it that were excellent. The nursery for instance was marvellous and the staff in there wonderful. I shall be saying this in my letter too.

However, as others have said, someone needed to put their "corporate" hat on and say sorry on behalf of Butlins and reassure me that they would be looking into the matter because it could have had serious consequences.

[sis]

I thought the problem now was that Butlins have failed to apologise properly for the the fact that the accommodation which they are responsible for was not up to acceptable standards. The 'news' story would not just be that the medication was found by a very young child but that the situation has been made worse for the child's parents because Butlins refuse to apologise.

Of course, an apology will not undo the fact that the medication was not removed, but it would show that Butlins take the matter seriously and take responsibility for the 'product' the sell/rent. I think that in two gorgeousboys place, I too would be furious and not be able to settle until I got a proper apology.

[hmb]

It may help in these cases if we were to insigate some for of 'no blame' correction policy. Dh is a pilot. The main trade journal has a section , 'I learned about flying from this' where people warn others about potential mistakes, without them being at the centre of a blame hunt. I agree that Butlins should be warned so that this sort of thing doesn't happen again, but it shouldn't be a witch hunt unelss you can prove that the cleaner was wilfully negligent.

[Angeliz]

If they were 'hidden' down the back of the bed then it could just be as easy as sending a memo to all cleaners to be more vigilant about certain places in the caravans/challets so things like this can be avoided.
I'm sure the company would be thankful it was brought to their attention!

[Thomcat]

I don't think anyone wants the cleaner hung, drawn or quartered!!! I, and I think others just think this is a serious incident, could have been a lot worse, and that Butlins should be made aware of it, it just seems a responsible, sensible thing to do.

[Nickinha]

Maybe I should bow down on this one, you guys seem to have valid points, I just feel sorry for the cleaning lady who I am sure would be devestated if she knew the anguish she had caused by simple negligence. I would have probably caused a stink there and then and then just thanked the good Lord my baby was alright. I am sure (or hope) that this is not common practice at Butlins

[Thomcat]

well why not, she won't get in any worse trouble. why shouldn't a serious matter like this be taken to the top. i doubt one person will be singled out. If your child took the drugs and you had to take them to hospital would you not think that you owed it to other parents, other children and to Butlins to make them aware of what happened?

[unicorn]

sorry I do feel very strongly about this one.
This isn't a witch hunt or whatever you want to call it- it's about inadequate policies at Butlins... They need to relook at their cleaning standards (and probably other areas) as a multi million pound business- they have a duty of care.
It is totally dif from finding drugs at a friends house.

[Nickinha]

No Thomcat, but it is necessary to go to the very top - could this matter not just be dealt with at the Hotel where 2GB stayed?

[Thomcat]

So should the mother of the child who ingested drugs and got aken to hospital just keep quiet incase someone gets a bit ticked off??!! The cleaner is only human and mistakes happen sure but Butlins need to be made aware this happened so they can send a letter out to cleaning staff and ask them to be more vigilant in the future. If it happens again it may not end so happily.

[Nickinha]

I am starting to feel a little sorry for the cleaning lady who does not know what is coming her way! It could happen so easily, human error, I have caught my dd with a bottle of medicine (thank Heavens it was not open), and I have made errors in my work before - sure glad no one is after me... what would you have done if your friend invited you over and accidently left something dangerous you little one got hold of?

[twogorgeousboys]

I think I've got a few good leads here.

Thanks everyone - will let you know how I get on.

[Angeliz]

It's awful!
I think you do right by taking it further.
Glad your little boy is fine

[twogorgeousboys]

Thanks for that Northerner.

Angelize - I think they must have been behind a bedside cabinet because that's where he was sitting when I saw him with them. 10 tablets were missing. I had been in the bathroom bit (in same room) packing up for about 10 minutes.

[unicorn]

2gb I didn't realise he had to go to hospital too...you must have been absolutely frantic.-
Definate story (and not for the money- but to get Butlins do change their cleaning policies if nothing else)
I rest my case.

[Angeliz]

where did you find the drugs and were they open??

[Northerner]

OK, I've done my research now. Butlins are simply are brand name they are owned by Bourne Leisure who are based in Hemel Hempstead. But I can not find a name of a CEO anywhere. S/he's like the scarlett pimpernell!

Butlins are a member of The National Caraven Council and The British Holiday Parks Association, they are the governing bodies who ensure everything is upto scratch. I would write to these and demand an enquiry. Tell them you want reasurrances that measures have been put in place to ensure this will not happen again. I would also say that because of the way you were treated you will NEVER use Butlins again, unless they can convince you that you should (we're looking for a freebie here!)

Also Butlins have an award for Best Holiday Park from The Travel Trade Gazette so I'd let them know waht happenned. (www.ttglive.com/contacts.asp

Keep us updated!

[twogorgeousboys]

Unicorn - I think Butlins need to take this very very seriously indeed. I can have a joke now, but at the time I was utterly terrified. There was no way of knowing whether he had ingested the drugs. ALL the doctors and nurses at the hospitals (had to be transferred to one with a paediatric ward) were utterly horrified.

Butlins CANNOT afford to be lazy about these prcedures.