Shrove Tuesday

Last week was Valentines, this week Shrove Tuesday, all the staff who shared them were very appreciative of the pancakes! It’s the little things that can make people feel valued.

On the ‘flip side’ (sorry couldn’t resist) today was one of those days where no one was happy :( meaning some of the team left feeling very undervalued and unappreciated.

Patients and parents screaming (literally) about waiting too long, medications being late (they weren’t), not happy with the drs assessments or not happy to wait for the right team to make the right decisions.
Having been on both sides of the NHS I do get the frustrations. But sometimes I’d like to be able to present an invoice at the end of the care episode to demonstrate what the service they had received would’ve cost them if it wasn’t for the NHS.
Don’t present at hospital because you’re worried about your/your child’s health and then refuse to let the staff give the treatment that is prescribed!
Don’t demand a certain treatment when all the evidence demonstrates it is not required.
Don’t ask a nurse to make a decision about the nil by mouth status before the surgeons have decided if they need to take the patient to theatre. If they eat they can’t have surgery, if they need the surgery they need to not eat, we are not going to let them starve, also surgery is usually scheduled accordingly to need so if you need surgery that isn’t life or limb threatening understand that you are a bit further down the priority list
Don’t expect everything to be ‘on time’ yes your antibiotic maybe due at 16.00 but if we are busy and don’t get to you until 16.24 (because we’re busy setting up a blood transfusion for another sick patient) it isn’t the end of the world!

I’m all for the right to ask the question and be a part of the care planning process but google really doesn’t make way for years of experience and expertise.

I have a wonderful team who work really hard to care for our patients and it makes me really cross when they are not given the respect they earn and deserve - sorry rant over!