C-Diff

[ionnsaigh]

My brother George Donoghue died last week - after contracting C-Diff at the Vale of Leven Hospital, he had recently turned 53 years old.

[ionnsaigh]

Hi Mike,

At this point in time I hold the chief executive of the health board accountable for the outbreak. The board should be morally bound by the values of the Hippocratic oath - do no harm. However accountability may change too include the Health Secretary Scotland - depending on the outcome of the enquiry. The board should pay heed to Scotland's motto - Nemo Me Impune lassett - particularly when dealing with the people of Glasgow and the west of Scotland. As we are all potential patients of the Health Board, it follows that we are all potential victims of C-Diff.
The people of oil rich Scotland deserve and demand a Health Service fit for purpose.Or have we come to expect as normal - threats of closures and under-funded dirty hospitals - with to few staff and resources, to provide the basic aspects of care, enshrined in our Human Rights. This area of Scotland suffers from some of the worst deprivation and poverty, clearly reflected in the appalling statistics of ill health and mortality rates - than anywhere else in Scotland or Britain for that matter.
As a people we have greatly contributed to the benefit of Britain as a whole - through Heavy Engineering, Ship Building, Medicine, Economics, Journalism and Education. As a people - and to the shame of Scotland - we now have to stand and demand the rights of any civilized society. The right to expect and give care from the cradle to the grave.

As far as the success or otherwise, of any political campaign is concerned, the campaign group must be prepared to take some form of direct action. The issue must remain in the public eye, in fact it must be raised to a higher level of awareness. I would propose a Saturday weekly stall in the centre of Dumbarton - perhaps with some flyer's and A4 size window posters. A petition calling for a full public inquiry - may be a later option -
As with the disruption of high profile media events. Perhaps some sort of easily identified sign or motto could be included in the campaign. People that encounter the stall should be encouraged to support the - as yet unwritten statement - by joining the campaign and taking out a membership with contact details - perhaps a wee card, with a general statement that includes the values that we have come to expect. That's all for now, I'm off to paint a red cross on the door of the leven - with the cry - bring out your dead.
Mick.

[vanadium]

Sorry to hear about your brother ionnsaigh - my condolences.

I hope your campaign goes well.

[ionnsaigh]

Ta

[hugh]

Sorry to hear about your loss, Ionnsaigh...you have my deepest sympathies.

[ionnsaigh]

Thanks hugh, nice to hear from you again.

[Govangirl]

Be afraid, Health Board, be very afraid!
You go, Ionns, we're all very proud of you!!!

[ionnsaigh]

A wee knock tae ma heid
awe these thoughts
George is deid
murdered in the Vale
so now I stand shinning bright
I lift Saint Patrick's shield
an Michael's sword
cry havoc
O' Donnachada of the Ard Ri lies
frozen cold and dead.

[westport321]

my heart is with you in this time. What a damned disgrace modern health care is.I have worked in it for 30 years and while technology has improved, for the most part staffing and common sense has not. Ions you have the right to be very angry, I too lost someone dear to me due to medical negligence and I know how you feel.Dont let them get away with this.
Too everyone else.... do not leave a loved one in a hospital without a family member present, take your own hand cleaners and disinfectant wipes, NEVER back off when told by "medical" staff that you cant ask questions. Make sure that hands are washed, stethescopes blood pressure cuffs etc before they are placed on you or your family. If the windows open, open them nothing better than fresh air it dilutes the crap floating around in hospitals. Hospitals.... the dirtiest places on earth.
again Ions my heart is with you, we care

[Govangirl]

westport, a sad post but a necessary and informative one, thanks. After working in the service for 30 years it would be interesting to hear from you why it has gone like this.
For me, money into the NHS up, nursing posts down, management posts up. Doesn't take brain of Britain does it?

[westport321]

govan girl,I blame several things, 1st quarantine all C Diff,MRSA, VRE, or any antibiotic resistant bacteria and do not let staff go from infected to non infected patients, 2nd Quarantine units should have separate air handling capabilities, washing facilities, cleaning staff etc.
3rd Slap the arrogance out of doctors and other staff who think hand washing is a rule that they dont have to abide by.
Main thing I see is contracted cleaning staff who dont give a rats ass about the job they do and trail dirty mops from one area to the other, FIRE them and hire dedicated staff that are part of the patient care team.Old adage if you treat people like valued human beings they will treat your customer or in this case patient like their own family member.
HIRE MORE NURSES, they are overworked to the point of exhaustion and can easily save time by not washing hands before patient care. That being said, try not to be a patient and if you are a patient get out of there as soon as possible, do you really need to be in hospital for a week after a laprascopic appendectomy? NO, you will get better quicker at home.
People need to question and demand better care, I always told my patients to question their medication, tests,and to demand that staff wash hands and equipment before use, you would question your plumber or mechanic or anyone else that was doing work for you, Health care is no different,if you educate yourself on a condition do not be afraid to demand answers to your questions and for petes sake dont demand antibiotics for viral illness like colds etc they dont work and can lead to reistant disease like the above mentioned. If all these deaths from Cdiff, MRSA etc were children between the ages of 2 to 7 these hospitals would be shut down by now. OK off my soapbox now. Sorry this is so long

[ionnsaigh]

Westport123

I found your last two posts very comforting and extremely helpful. Comforting in the way you could so easily relate to my dilemma. I have always cherished the values of the NHS - I still do - even as I sit here plotting the downfall of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. The people deserve so much better than the current sham. Your knowledge of Quarantine has given previously unknown insight. I wholeheartedly agree that the cleaning of the hospital, remains as the core of the outbreaks.
Underpaid and exploited contract cleaners - have as you say - no direct affiliation or genuine attachment - to their place of work. Contract cleaning has been tried tested and in the light of day - found failed - a miserable short term saving that has ultimately led to disease and death. C-Diff outbreaks have recently be compared to a smallpox epidemic. Unfortunately my limited knowledge forbids from making judgement.
I feel that the current atmosphere - fear culture attacks on staff - serve as a distinct disadvantage to anyone who dares raise concerns or complaint. Roughly about Ten years ago, I was clearly branded a trouble maker, through the grapevine by the nurses in Glasgow Royal Infirmary AEU. The stupid wee lassies became ultra sensitive when I complained about the conditions I and my fellow patients had to endure. I waited seven long hours before being treated for a DVT- very few nurses appeared to attend the patients - preferring it seems to chat around the nurse station. As to the toilet in the department - broken door urine flooded and blood splattered ,it had not been cleaned for hours. I decided to use the other public toilet. I found an unconscious man lying in the toilet with dried blood covering his head and face. I had to interrupt the group of laughing nurses - last nights TV show was really funny type gathering. Me I blame a lack of leadership, and it therefore falls neatly into the domain of management responsibility.
A few years prior to these events - my brother Stephen spent 3 Months in the AEU ward in GRI.Brain Injury Coma. I have nothing but praise for the dedicated staff - who cared and looked after - not only him - but us lot as well.
Why do you think that there appears - even in the same hospital - areas where care standards are re markedly different?
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your kind thoughts and support. It has rekindled my belief in Human Beings.Thanks for that.

[westport321]

Ionns, you lost a family member to this disease of modern cost savings and productivity standards, you and other families have the right to be very angry. Nursing staff in some places feel that patient complaints of illness are a bother to them.I agree with you that there are exceptional health care staff that truly care about the people that are in their charge. I think that the gift of promotion for staff that really dont have any management skills is a major problem, they are moved up the ladder because they are someones son or daughter and are basically morons who are afraid to confront the caregivers they are charged to manage.
Dont sell yourself short go after them,dont listen to the pundits who will tell you that you dont understand how the system works and therefore cant offer fixes. The system is broken and only the people can fix it by demanding clean efficient health care. Be proud of that troublemaker tag, for some of us it is a badge of courage. Your taxes pay for the NHS so essentially they work for you.Everyone who goes to one of these places should take pictures( dont get patient faces in them) of the filthy conditions,the broken doors, the water running across floors. Get those pictures to the newspapers, to your msp, Post them on the internet, plaster them on the walls outside the hospital. The people who use these services deserve better. Go get them and let us know how it goes.

[Govangirl]

Could this be anything to do with the fact that a University education level is now needed? Surely nurses don’t need a university degree? Most of nursing is practical stuff - washing, dressing, feeding, hands-on care. Of course they need complex medical skills but years ago they seemed to get that in their basic training.
When my mother was in the Southern General recently, I could have cried when I saw how she was treated. One young nurse berated her for making a mess with the water from her bath when clearly she couldn't get out of her bath herself. It was clear that washing backsides and emptying bedpans were beneath them. Simple clearing up and washing spills of any body fluids were clearly not on their agenda. Twice when my brother and I visited she was soiled and nobody seemed to care.
I don’t believe intelligence can be measured in qualifications alone, which is why I don’t think Nursing Degrees should have standard University entrance requirements as this has the potential to alienate intelligent people without the qualifications - people who have basic common sense and real caring skills.
I so agree with you westport that we should take pictures, etc. but the problem is that when we're in that situation, we're vulnerable and only focusing on our loved one - it wasn't until later that I got really angry with the way my old mum was treated. At the time, I was too busy looking after her, wiping her soiled backside and wiping away her tears!
What dignity is there in this? I'm weeping now at the thought of it.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Ionns, I just read this. I am so sorry to hear about your brother; 53 is way too young, especially something that is so preventable by hospital staff just washing their hands.

My sincerest sympathy to you and your family.. sad news.