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) - 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
Offline)
Comments7
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
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
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
1 more comment
A bit of a lottery is NHS nursing care today. Whilst mostly excellent, when its fails, the failure is felt like a hammer blow.
Yes indeed, that is precisely the case... thank you DA... Neville
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
Thnx for reading
Yes, mostly excellent - there was I (there am I at present too) watching super treatments from Ambulance staff on telly.
yes we owe an awful lot to our mostly wonderful ambulance staff and paramedics... thank you for checking in ....Neville
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.
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
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.
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.
no one is likely to argue with that GF60 and thank you for this, your most recent visit.... Neville
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
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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