The cost of being kind, compassionate and diligent

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.

5 Likes

This is a rant. And it is not clear to me what you are saying and whom you are blaming.

With respect, the quote from Alice’s mother is false. It DOES cost more to ensure that staff are kind, compassionate and diligent. Recruiting diligent staff, or training staff to be diligent, and checking that they are diligent, costs more. Zero tolerance of mistakes is very costly indeed.

1 Like

For your reasons you should ignore the issue which as I understand it from you is a non-issue.

Have a great week ahead.

What reasons? What issue? Just because I think you are ranting does not mean that I think the issue behind the rant is a non-issue. I am inviting you to be clearer and less emotional.

I can well believe that the NHS is in a genuine crisis. But I doubt that suing NHS Trusts is the solution.

1 Like

I reject the invitation. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with being emotional. There are too many meat-robots in health services! Get them out - and introduce let real caring human beings with their emotions to take charge.

Nor do I believe it is a solution.

This is a forum to discuss mental health and capacity law. Not to express emotions.

Thank you - all persons from here on must obey.