Modern nurse training sees less compassion to patient care

From: Brian Hemsworth, Beechwood, Woodlesford, Leeds.

After much heart searching, I feel compelled to register my dismay about the treatment meted out to my sister by staff in the Bexley wing of St James Hospital (Leeds).

She was admitted on September 21 to undergo major surgery. The operation was carried out successfully and she was returned to the ward. The day after the operation, my sister, trying to get into her bed in the presence of two nurses (one each side of the bed) was offered no assistance to get back into bed. Two of her sisters who were present then had to help her.

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She was informed by the doctor that she wouldn’t be leaving hospital before Wednesday, September 28. On Tuesday, September 27, she was informed that her bed was needed, so she was being discharged.

She was then placed in the ward day room at about 2pm. No arrangements were made for her transfer to home.

She therefore had to wait in the day room until her daughter, who works in Ackworth to the south of Wakefield, was able to come for her.

Her daughter finally arrived at 6.30pm to find her mother had been left on her own in the day room for almost five hours.

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During this time no nurse or other member of staff had inquired whether she needed a drink, food, or use of the toilet.

Her daughter found her distressed and dehydrated. A male member of staff was most disgruntled when he was asked if he could provide my sister with a drink.

It seems to me that the change in nurse training from hospital to university has resulted in a different, less compassionate, approach to patient care. The situation did not improve when she returned home.

No support was forthcoming from either her GPs or district nurses.

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She was left to deal with the changing of wound dressings, with her daughter being left to remove the drain.

A week after her return home, a nurse came to remove the 34 clips from her wound.

On examination, she found infection where the drain had been removed.

Her GP finally called to see her some 10 days after her return home.

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I trust that the nurse manager responsible for nursing standards on the Bexley Wing will deem it wise to investigate the issues raised in my letter.

From: C D Round, Lee Lane East, Horsforth, Leeds.

We hear on the news of the appalling treatment of elderly people in our hospitals. The buck stops at the top.

When are the chief executives, chief nursing officers and chief medical officers of these hospitals going to be dismissed – without compensation?

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