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Original poster

Surgeons resign from Barts and the London

58 replies

Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 21:47

Not sure how to link... Disturbing news piece on BBC news regarding mass resignation from the above trust due to poor standards of care and equipment not available etc etc, a new Stafford???

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DazzleII · 01/12/2011 21:50

Haven't seen the story but it's fantastic news if they're actually doing something about poor standards, instead of just going along with it all.

EdithWeston · 01/12/2011 21:50

Here's the BBC story.

Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 21:55

I'm pleased that at last a group of people are standing up to complain, rather than allow things to be swept under the carpet. I hope that their concerns are heard and people realise this sort of thing is happening all over the NHS, and no it's not a symptom of Tory cuts!

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DazzleII · 01/12/2011 21:59

"We have become so used to this situation it is no longer seen as a crisis, it is the norm."

If more of the doctors and nurses start to whistle-blow, a culture of higher standards might eventually take hold.

DazzleII · 01/12/2011 22:01

"I have been complicit in a poor standard of trauma care and am guilty of negligence by association.

"I can no longer stand idly by when patients are at best having their human rights breached, and at worst physically harmed by the care they receive."

Blimey.

EdithWeston · 01/12/2011 22:04

It's a longrunning issue - they say it's been lik this for about 4 years.

It's not a new Stafford - they say they have no evidence that it has caused deaths. But it has mad a difference to level of care (patients having to wait days for operations for wound care, leading to deeper, harder to treat infections and other avoidable suboptimal outcomes).

I haven' found a response from the Trust.

But it must be worrying that there are now even fewer surgeons in the trauma care in that Trust (it's where the Air Ambulance goes, isn't it?). I wonder how long it will take them to rebuild a team and services in that area. And what they might have to prune in order to be able to augment this?

Hassled · 01/12/2011 22:05

Blimey indeed. I don't know what to say - good for them, they should be proud of themselves for making the standard but just blimey re how bad things are.

Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:05

So pleased a group of consultants have at last made a stand, and that this is not swept under the carpet

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Hassled · 01/12/2011 22:05

Making the stand, not standard

DazzleII · 01/12/2011 22:06

And they say the poor care will have adversely affected the rest of patients' lives.

Shock
Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:06

The air ambulance flies to other major trauma centres in london

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Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:07

It's a long running issue in a lot of London trusts

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DazzleII · 01/12/2011 22:08

I wonder whether it will adversely affect their careers to have made a stand?

Whether they'll be seen as trouble-makers?

Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:09

Unfortunately trusts invest only in surgery that is money making rather than than trauma and emergency surgery which at best is cost 'neutral'

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Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:11

Of course it will affect their careers. It's one of the sad reasons why whistleblowers find it so difficult

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EdithWeston · 01/12/2011 22:12

Alargeglassofred: the London is however its home base, and the place to/from which it operates the most. It can go elsewhere of course, but that is not its usual operation. I mentioned it only to show that a crisis in these trauma/orthopaedic services in this particular Trust has an impact across London.

DazzleII · 01/12/2011 22:13

But in any rational system, they would be applauded for their honesty, bravery and ethical position!

FGS!

Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:14

Point taken Edith , but there are various air ambulances who land at other trusts who are also designated trauma centres

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Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:27

Dazzle the nhs is no longer a rational system! It is run by managers obsessed with targets no matter what the politicians say!

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DazzleII · 01/12/2011 22:28

Yes, but the doctors at least should have some kind of moral code, surely?

Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:32

I agree and most do , although its not documented. Am so pleased that a group have stood up to be counted rather than just the usual lone voice

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EdithWeston · 01/12/2011 22:34

I've just seen this on the 10 O'Clock BBC News. It seems that the President of the RCS shares their concerns, and is sending in a team to investigate.

There is unlikely to be more word from those who have resigned, as they are currently working out notice periods and declined interview requests.

Ticketybootoo · 01/12/2011 22:35

I wonder where these consultants have gone to - private practices ?? Have they just quit altogether - whichever is very sad as a sign of the NHS on its knees.What a waste of all that expertise too.Losing them all will have an impact on people in London without a doubt as their experience is justnot easily replaced.

I can totally empathise with these surgeons as I have frontline experience of the type of thing they are talking about and it wasn't in that hospital.Not sure how much I should say though!! I must say the Medical Director of that Trust looks like he's chewing a wasp on TV - not surprising really!

Original poster
Alargeglassofred · 01/12/2011 22:37

Front line trauma consultants do not have the fall back of private practice

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acumenin · 01/12/2011 22:45

The starving thing is pretty standard, IME. It's happened to DP a few times.

Last time he was starved for six days (with an open to the bone and tracking wound) in hospital for an op that kept getting bumped. They ended up having to put him on IV fluids etc. Crazy.

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