The NHS Alarm Call

Neville

The NHS Alarm Call

 

Hit it once

And

Half a dozen of them come running

White coats and black stockings

Ticking boxes

Pushing buttons

All intent on probing

 

Hit it twice

And

One might come, eventually

Tut tut tutting

Criticizing

Disempowering and finger pointing 

 

Hit it three times

And

Nothing happens, nothing happens at all

Silence, tears, adrenaline pumping

Humiliation

Let’s get him out of here

 

 

  • Author: Neville (Offline Offline)
  • Published: May 29th, 2019 03:43
  • Comment from author about the poem: Having worked in the NHS for over forty years, I was disgusted when my father was treated this way & which necessitated his early discharge to a safer environment...
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 57
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Comments +

Comments7

  • Fay Slimm.

    The disgraceful facts given right airing in this telling verse Neville. Hoping your father got better treatment as needed and thanks for sharing what has become a real problem --- Fay

    • Neville

      thank you for considering this sad & sorry tale my friend... my father died at home a whole year later, with dignity and courage, surrounded by and knowing he was surrounded with love... Neville

      • Fay Slimm.

        At home is the best place and right way to say love's goodbyes my friend - - - your Dad had his deserved and dignified passing and how I wish that could happen to thousands more.........x

        • Neville

          thank you Fay, what a love filled thought... N x

        • dusk arising

          A bit of a lottery is NHS nursing care today. Whilst mostly excellent, when its fails, the failure is felt like a hammer blow.

          • Neville

            Yes indeed, that is precisely the case... thank you DA... Neville

          • Suresh

            Though this was in UK, the experience is the same all over the world, and it truly doesn't improve with more elite or expensive locations.
            If one could get the correct treatment, home is a more conducive place.
            Thnx for sharing

            • Neville

              Thnx for reading

            • orchidee

              Yes, mostly excellent - there was I (there am I at present too) watching super treatments from Ambulance staff on telly.

              • Neville

                yes we owe an awful lot to our mostly wonderful ambulance staff and paramedics... thank you for checking in ....Neville

              • Michael Edwards

                I get really uptight when I hear about criticism of the NHS having spent many years defending it from unmeritorious claims. But sometimes things do go wrong or it doesn't get it right as seems the case here. Sorry to hear about your Father but it is uplifting to think that he was not alone and had so much love.

                • Neville

                  thank you Michael... yes indeed, mistakes do happen and there is no way we can eliminate all risk.. however, that was not the issue... there can be no excuse for certain behaviour & attitudes, nor for neglect of duty and brutality... N

                  • Michael Edwards

                    that was what I was alluding to when I said things sometimes go wrong. The question is why? There can be many reasons but they do not excuse such behaviour.

                  • Goldfinch60

                    Over the years I and my wife have had superb treatment by the NHS but as has been said sometimes it goes wrong. In the case of your father if nobody came there is no excuse.
                    It appears that 'some people' not in the medical business want the NHS to fail, this we MUST stop as the NHS is such a worthy cause to save.

                    • Neville

                      no one is likely to argue with that GF60 and thank you for this, your most recent visit.... Neville

                    • FineB

                      Hello Neville,

                      Thank you for this powerful and good write on the NHS. I worked for the NHS for a time in the area of mental health and there was a lot of good will there in this area but sadly a lack of funding as with the NHS at most times.

                      Sorry for the way your father was treated. Years of Tory government has not helped the NHS especially under the champion cost cutters Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne.

                      Keep writing
                      FineB

                      • Neville

                        thank you my friend for your most reasoned and otherwise detailed and encouraging response to my words... my fathers treatment was not influenced by any political party or under funding, but rather by the insensitivity, the attitude and bad practices & general laziness of a few ward staff at the time..... thanks again, Neville



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