I have troubled the NHS over the last 4 years and one more year to go. I have nothing but praise for them in the main, and due to the nature of my treatment (breast cancer) I had time to get to know one or two of the team that looked after me.
I remember being really shocked at the speed (7 days) I was processed at. I asked how I was being operated on just 7 days after a positive diagnosis, the nurse told me my surgery would have been instead of several routine planned surgeries. I bet whoever got cancelled that day was spitting feathers but would not have realised why. I needed the surgery there and then, their agonising joint or whatever ‘could’ wait.
A trip to A&E late at night whilst enduring chemo was an eye opener for me too. The abuse the staff were enduring was beyond belief. I was fast tracked (chemo patients carry a card to enable swift care). As I was wheeled in I heard people shouting about ‘that xxxxx bitch should get in the queue’. My husband told me the receptionist was being hurled abuse at because she had ‘allowed’ me to be seen.
Whilst in the cubicles I watched nurses being abused by a patient handcuffed to a trolley and a policeman. Those nurses just carried on doing their job. It is little wonder staff retention is so poor.
