Get into it (or not)
Figueiredo’s mother told the BBC: “A wounded animal would have received safer, more attentive, compassionate care at the vet’s than Alice received on this ward. The final months of her life [were] a disastrous catalogue of dehumanising, at times miserably brutalising, neglectful experiences often lacking in compassion, vigilance and even basic humanity.
“It does not cost NHS hospitals and their staff more to be kind, compassionate and diligent within their duties.”
Hospital cleared of manslaughter over psychiatric patient suicide
Oh but it really costs! How? It’s an open secret but no hard evidence to prove that NHS Mental Health Trusts have been cash-strangled and their flesh shaved to the bone. And after that their bone has been shaved too.
The general public making comments like that captioned above are unaware of what has been going on for th last 15 years or so. But I know what has been going on. On average I work in 3.5 different Trusts per year. No politician has the power to change my actual observed evidence.
Some time late last year I was at a certain Trust where staff were burnt out like nobody’s business, overworked and failing on the job. It was a regular thing to hear “We’re down 5 today.” (on one ward) Perhaps the public might understand the words but not be capable of understanding what it really means for the staff on many days like that.
How the devil is staff to provide compassion, vigilance and ‘basic humanity’ when everyone of them are running around like headless chickens? Certain staff behaved like orderlies. If you’re one of those in the general public you might think, “And what did you as the consultant do? Did you not tell people to get their act together?” That sort of thinking would demonstrate exactly my point. The public do not understand how dangerous it is for consultants to put their heads above the parapets. What? Jeez. You really don’t understand - it’s dozens of them and one of you, which means you open your mouth and you’ve had it. [Sorry - due to forum rules I could not be more graphic].
After the flesh has been taken from the bone, don’t expect to just find it lying around to be readily plastered back on. Is common sense still alive?
To lawyers out there - I actively encourage you to sue the socks of the health services. Not to worry about breaking the bank. The Treasury has allocated circa £68 billion to pay out. So make that money - dip into that big 'piggy bank ’ for your own benefit and that of clients. That’s all you can do really.
Apparently - words classified as ‘a rant’ ought to be ignored. It’s the way of the Empire! Anything appearing to be hyperbole is not to be tolerated.