[lettie]

Originally Posted by bobthedj

The reason i started this thread is because my mother is ill and has been all over christmas and the new year the doctors been out everyday to give her pain killing injections, he's been this morning and siad she has to be admitted to hospital, its now 11.35pm she is still at home because of no beds.

Sorry about your mother Bob. Everyone who works for the NHS knows what an awful state it's in and we all know about winter pressures when medical ward beds are full of elderly poorly, not necessarily acute cases. Patients are entitled to go to a hospital where care can be provided. Most people who live in Accy would go to Blackburn, but Burnley, Preston, Manchester, Blackpool and Bolton are also options. I assume your mother's GP would've discussed these options and if not why not?

There are plenty of GP's in Accy who have spaces to take patients onto their books. Unfortunately the good GP's ie, Peel House, Myrtle House and Wellington St CLM tend to be full because they are good GP's. There is no simple solution to the NHS lack of beds, staff and funding. As far as funding is concerned it is a bottomless pit. Beds could be provided but they will be totally useless if there aren't enough nurses and medical staff to look after the patients in them. As far as staff are concerned the reality is that most of the staff work incredibly hard. Meal breaks are often missed, we never get off duty on time, patients and visitors always seem to resent us trying to get a quick brew. We are not paid for meal breaks but often don't get them because you can't just walk out in the middle of treating someone. If factory workers were treated the same way they would down tools and walk out. On top of that is the daily abuse we receive from some patients and visitors, some of whom expect everything, have paid nothing into the system and think we are bloody slaves.. Luckily most people are nice and realise that we are short staffed and working under extreme pressure, but the rude ones really p*** you off.
If I was 18 again and knew then what I know now, I would never have gone into nursing and midwifery. I love looking after people, but under current circumstances we don't get chance to spend the time with people that we would like to, and don't even get me started on the paperwork!!!!!