I experienced something which even I wouldn't believe I would. Maybe I have not really lived.

I had to take a family member to hospital last Friday night. We were very quickly admitted into the A&E system and the whole process of it. We waited for like around a hour, which I knew it may happen, and did not mind the waiting time. During that time, there were a few people around the waiting room, which we kind of talked to and said hi to. I was with my gran, and I had to get her to take some anti-biotic, and we had to wait a further 20 minutes.

Even though I am able-bodied, not sick, I felt really overheated just sitting in that waiting room for a hour, and I can feel my own lips drying up. This old lady saw my gran with a cup of water for her tablets, and asked where we got it from. I said it was from the nurse. Cos this lady seems pretty old and she was even there before us. I thought that she must be really dehydrated. She told me that she had been with her friend since 4pm going from hospital to hospital to get her fractured arm set in plaster. That was like 3 to 4 hours since. I said, I will ask the nurse for one, for her sake. I told her to sit tight.

So I went to the nurse and asked if I can have a cup of water for this lady in the waiting room cos she looked like she was dehydrated. She asked me who it was, and show her. I told her, it was this specific lady, and then she looked me in the eye and said "no". With a smile to her face. I asked, well, if you can't do that, then where is the nearest shop or canteen? She said, there isn't one. I was REALLY mad. :mad: This woman, who thinks she is a matron, can't even see beyond her own nose that further people in that room could either have further problems in itself from dehydration. She must be on some stupid ego trip. I was shocked, and then I apologised to the lady, and everyone was shocked in the room. This old lady had to then sneakily like a convict, go to the toilet to drink from the wash basin to stop herself from being dehydrated!

Stupidly, I forgotten that there were some vending machines in the A&E entrance as well. The nurse could've just told us. I was kicking myself about that too when I left eventually.

Anyway, I don't know whether it's cos of my upset look, or my shocked look. The nurse did later came back and said, "oh, I thought you meant your gran. Cos she can't have water for her medicine. I have to ask the Dr." (But the Dr gave her some water to take the antibiotic with ANYWAY???) Who she trying to kid? :rolleyes:

She much does water from a tap and a foam cup cost to the NHS?

The dilemma is whether to report her anyway, or let it go cos there is such a shortage of staff in the NHS as it is. I've been pondering over that for the last couple of days. How nice was her bedside manner??

is there any medical reason why this old lady shouldn't have had a drink? i'd report it anyway tbh - if there was a genuine reason it'd become apparent very quickly in teh course of even the tiniest investigation. whilst nurses aren't there to cater to everyone's every whim, an outright 'no', not even a 'give me 5 minutes' or someting similar seems rather off.

Not abusing hospital staff etc cos they do an amazing job ,but if this nurse was been funny i would like to think if this was my relative they were actin stupid about i would have poked her in the eye,but doubt they would be doing this for nothing

This was not a patient, but an old lady who accompanied her friend from hospital to hospital to get her fractured arm x-rayed. She sat for a while, and whether its intuition or just alarm bells in my mind, I remember some incidence on a summer month whereby a lot of OAP in France died of dehydration. Even I was quite edgy from being dehydrated too. So I doubly feel sorry for her, and her discomfort too.

There was no medical reason for this lady not to have any water. Cos as far as I know, she was not a patient. The nurse came back with the line that she mistook my gran as this lady. :rolleyes: (Even though my gran already had water for her medicine anyway. An extra cup makes no further difference.)

I know that people do get emotionally drained working for the healthcare service, but this is taking the mick a bit.

I think the nurse may have been a little short with you, but I don't really see that she's done a deal wrong.

I think the nurse may have been a little short with you, but I don't really see that she's done a deal wrong.

if there was a serious risk that the lady was dehydrated, and her health suffer as a consequence, then a nurse refusing water would seem wrong to me, as it would only make the situation worse. however, if there wasn't any notable risk (and bago has said there was, and she was the only one us us present), then i would agree that the nurse had done nothing wrong.

We had to go to EAU last month and the other half was in for a good few hours overnight- there are no facilities for visitors and both he and I were gagging for a drink- even water would've done but there was nothing.

We kept asking how long he had to stay in and when he would be allowed to go but kept being fobbed off. Whilst we were there, a chap came to the nurses station and asked for a glass of water for his mum in law who had been admitted to the next ward- 45 minutes later he had to remind them that she was still in need of that glass of water - and all that time they had just been yacking at the nurses station about Eastenders, Corrie and whatever other godawful rubbish had been on the telly the night before. I was not impressed.

No, I do not think you should report this nurse. If you had serious concerns it would have been better to voice them at the time. I really do not think healthcare professionals would allow patients or those with them to become dehydrated in the hospital. They have more than enough to cope with, without adding to their workload.

if there was a serious risk that the lady was dehydrated, and her health suffer as a consequence, then a nurse refusing water would seem wrong to me, as it would only make the situation worse. however, if there wasn't any notable risk (and bago has said there was, and she was the only one us us present), then i would agree that the nurse had done nothing wrong.

Well, refusing water - mmm, kind of, but if I understand the OP correctly the old lady wasn't a patient at the time and water was available in the loos.
With due respect, Bago - how can you tell that this lady was clinically dehydrated?

I was saving the possibility of the hospital being sued, if something really did happen in that waiting room. Cos it is neglience if the hospital staff did not either turn down the heat, or offered water to dehydrated people. Right in the middle of a hospital. Wouldn't that make headline news??

I was just peeved that they were so short-sighted. Even I was monitoring my gran, and I knew she drifted in and out of sleep. I tried to keep her awake and upbeat. Plus she was dehydrated, and I know that she was being a handful and not eaten much before going to A&E. My gran was 89, and the other ladies looked like they were around their 60s or 70s.

Well, refusing water - mmm, kind of, but if I understand the OP correctly the old lady wasn't a patient at the time and water was available in the loos.
With due respect, Bago - how can you tell that this lady was clinically dehydrated?
I cannot know whether she was "clinically dehydrated", but I did know that my gran was getting there, and I did look out for her. Though, the other old lady, had been there for quite a long time. If I found that waiting room to be overheated, even when I took off my coat, and was just wearing a thin top, how would that lady cope? She did also wear a thin top too. Imagine how uncomfortable she must be? She was even scared to ask the nurse for anything, which I thought was kind of ridiculous to say the least!

if there was a serious risk that the lady was dehydrated, and her health suffer as a consequence, then a nurse refusing water would seem wrong to me, as it would only make the situation worse. however, if there wasn't any notable risk (and bago has said there was, and she was the only one us us present), then i would agree that the nurse had done nothing wrong.


Also,if the waiting room was full,how many more would be queuing up for water,taking up the nurses time?
Some hospitals have cold water and free plastic beakers available in the waiting area all the time.

I was saving the possibility of the hospital being sued, if something really did happen in that waiting room. Cos it is neglience if the hospital staff did not either turn down the heat, or offered water to dehydrated people. Right in the middle of a hospital. Wouldn't that make headline news??

I was just peeved that they were so short-sighted. Even I was monitoring my gran, and I knew she drifted in and out of sleep. I tried to keep her awake and upbeat. Plus she was dehydrated, and I know that she was being a handful and not eaten much before going to A&E. My gran was 89, and the other ladies looked like they were around their 60s or 70s.

it could also be negligence if they gave water to everyone and someone slipped and spilled it and sued.
actually most nurses would probably be willing to give out water - they're only paid about as much as a fast food waitress anyway.

It would probably have been more appropriate to voice your concern at the time. As it was an able bodied person that was wanting a drink the nurses priority would be the patients.

it could also be negligence if they gave water to everyone and someone slipped and spilled it and sued.
actually most nurses would probably be willing to give out water - they're only paid about as much as a fast food waitress anyway.

It's actually rather better than that - unless you know any fast food waitresses on around 23k a year.

It's actually rather better than that - unless you know any fast food waitresses on around 23k a year.

but then again i don't know any nurses on 23k either.although "management" salaries @ fast food places are 23k.
management being you wear a shirt & tie and not a polo shirt.

Nurses actually start on about £18K, not bad but still not enough to put up with the crap they're expected to.

That's the thing. I tried to look for one, and I couldn't see any in that tiny room. Cos apparently, there were 3 rooms for different priorities. I accept that, and I just kept thinking, that this is a bit morbid. Even when she refused, I took the initiative to ask her where I can get some myself for the people in the room, and I am even prepared to pay for it for God sakes. She could've just told me where it was, and I can get it myself. It's my first time in that hospital, and I didn't know where things were.

I kept thinking, why she did come back to tell me that one-liner and went off, if that was how she felt?

It kind of made me think that, it isn't a working professional for the TLC that is so much needed in healthcare, but just some people with a decent bedside manner who acts as first line would be great. I know reforms are already in place to reduce waiting time as well as processing times.

When we left, she even smiled at us and give us a bye. :confused: Yet her nursing skills were so poor?? I found her a little bit sadistic. To not care for you when you need her to be, but she can remember to say a goodbye and wave you away. *deep sigh*

nurses are overated. some good some bad. same as any other worker. they do the job for money, not because they want to help. its more or less a job for life and i get sick of them whinging. its a cushy job in a nice warm environment. its not digging holes in the rain.

Did she fully understand what you were asking? It sounds like it was crossed wires and possibly she misunderstood your request.

When we left, she even smiled at us and give us a bye. :confused: Yet her nursing skills were so poor?? I found her a little bit sadistic. To not care for you when you need her to be, but she can remember to say a goodbye and wave you away. *deep sigh*

You didn't see any of her nursing skills - you weren't her patient! It's a bloody hard job - when I did it I always tried hard to be welcoming and warm with visitors and relatives. Sometimes you've all on trying to stay chirpy for the punters, never mind their family and friends.

It's ironic that you guys mentioned and compared it to the fast food industry. Cos I have been waitressing for families for years. If I didn't believe in what I was doing, then I wouldn't be doing it. I just think that the healthcare seriously do need hardened emotive people. I have never actually complained about anything. I don't even write complain letters. But this was something which I gave a lot of thoughts about, and whether it was morally right for me to do so. It kind of did push me to this kind of extent, which I am surprised at too. If you're not in it to save the people, then why the heck are you doing that job for? Less people with that kind of attitude may actually pull the service up to be a better one. Just a genuinely nice answer without her smirk or smiles as you go would be great.

nurses are overated. some good some bad. same as any other worker. they do the job for money, not because they want to help. its more or less a job for life and i get sick of them whinging. its a cushy job in a nice warm environment. its not digging holes in the rain.


For the money.....your avin a larf mate. Errrr, do you read the papers (assuming you can read, wouldn't want to appear non pc!) it's no longer a job for life, highlighted by the many recent redundancies. And cushy.. hmm not sure how you work that out, you have obviously nursed for many years, and yes, you're right, it's not digging holes in the rain, nursing actually requires a degree these days :loopy:

You didn't see any of her nursing skills - you weren't her patient! It's a bloody hard job - when I did it I always tried hard to be welcoming and warm with visitors and relatives. Sometimes you've all on trying to stay chirpy for the punters, never mind their family and friends.
As I said before too, I waitress too. So I do know what it can be like. I even debated with someone about complaint letters and customer services on here before. The is the thing which gets me. I am not one to complaint for supposed "bad services", but if it involved a life, then I do step in. This is not a restaurant, nor a fast food service whereby you do need some politeness and intuition, but it is a healthcare service. I don't care for the Ps ans Qs. Just don't stop me if I see someone needing water, which may help their lives too. I thought long and hard and couldn't understand why the heating in that room was so darn high, plus no water to add to that scenario.

There was a bin in there, but no vending machine, or water machines. Which I thought was a bit ridiculous. Where do people get any food from?

nurses are overated. some good some bad. same as any other worker. they do the job for money, not because they want to help. its more or less a job for life and i get sick of them whinging. its a cushy job in a nice warm environment. its not digging holes in the rain.
Well no, cos there are specialised nurses training to do various things too. I don't know whether she is a specialised nurse or not. I understand that some nursing needs specialisation especially in areas of mental healthcare.

For the money.....your avin a larf mate. Errrr, do you read the papers (assuming you can read, wouldn't want to appear non pc!) it's no longer a job for life, highlighted by the many recent redundancies. And cushy.. hmm not sure how you work that out, you have obviously nursed for many years, and yes, you're right, it's not digging holes in the rain, nursing actually requires a degree these days :loopy:

if they're so caring, why did they go on strike? all this angel stuff is nonesence. they're no more angels than bus drivers, steelworkers, shop assistants, etc. now if you want to talk about angels then care assistants are that. nurses are well paid and its a good job, bunch of drama queens who encourage sympathy.

how do the many imigrant nurses have a degree then?

if they're so caring, why did they go on strike? all this angel stuff is nonesence. they're no more angels than bus drivers, steelworkers, shop assistants, etc. now if you want to talk about angels then care assistants are that. nurses are well paid and its a good job, bunch of drama queens who encourage sympathy.

Nurses haven't gone on strike for many years. I've been a nurse since 1992, and there hasn't been a strike in that time.
how do the many imigrant nurses have a degree then?
Nurses who qualified abroad have to prove that the education programme in the country of their registration is equivelant to that in this country, where it isn't they may be able to access 'top up' courses, but if there education isn't up to british standard they are not allowed to practice in this country.

Did she fully understand what you were asking? It sounds like it was crossed wires and possibly she misunderstood your request.

To be honest with you, I really really do not know.
I don't know whether she was:
1) seriously taking the mick, and think "ah ha, I will teach this one person a lesson in asking for water", since she's had numerous ppl doing that to her on a daily basis or,
2) she really thought I meant my gran instead of this non-patient.

What I really did not explicitly say was "please give these people a drink before they dehydrate and therefore you can be sued".

I cannot remember exactly why the old lady went to the toilet to get a drink, which was next to that room. I dunno whether the nurse did mention that or not you know... All I remember was her bolshiness, and the refusal to cooperate. Then the white lie. Then the smile as we bumped into her in the other big waiting room, cos that was where there was water. I distinctively remember that much.

People hardly treat the hospital as an entertainment centre. Thirstiness, and hunger will of course arise from such situation, from waiting a hour or more.

Well, they do actually have universities and run degree courses in their country of origin!

if they're so caring, why did they go on strike?

Err.......to try and earn a living wage?

Err.......to try and earn a living wage?


oh so they do do it for money then, thats good to know, they're like the rest of us.

Well, they do actually have universities and run degree courses in their country of origin!


you dont need a degree to be a nurse anyway, common sence is more use.

you dont need a degree to be a nurse anyway, common sence is more use.

I completely agree!

oh so they do do it for money then, thats good to know, they're like the rest of us.

It's perfectly feasible to care about people and love your job and want to keep a roof over your head.

It's perfectly feasible to care about people and love your job and want to keep a roof over your head.


Not to the uneducated masses it's not!

The nurses I know who work on A+E do extreemly long shifts, from 7 in the morning untill 9:30 at night. So by the end of their shift they are extreemly tired and might not be polite as they are at the beggining of their shift. As a staff nurse myself I split my jobs into:

- have to do now
- have to do at soon
- have to do at some stage
- would like to do

To be honest, dealing with the requests of relatives come at the bottem of the list above; but I would always try to be polite.

It's perfectly feasible to care about people and love your job and want to keep a roof over your head.

well of course it is and i wouldnt disagree with that at all.its when the "angels" thing starts.

Not to the uneducated masses it's not!

mmmmm so you see yourself as better than someone who didnt have the opportunities you had, did you say you were a nurse. thats very caring?

dunno if your talking about me, but i have a honours degree, probably better than yours. and for what its worth getting a degree these days is no big deal.anyone with half a brain can. (i did)

Can i just add that i am a healthcare assistant and have been, for many years in the nhs, and can i say that i definatley do not do it for the money to start with:mad: . And as regards to the nurse who wasn't very helpful it could have been a misunderstanding as all patient are asked not to eat or drink until being assess by a doctor, the nurse should have spoken the patient/relative or friend and by doing so it would have been apparent that she wasn't an actual patient and no reason to abstain from being allowed a drink or advised on where to get one from. Most waiting room do supply water and cups and water should never be drunk from the toilet room.

Yes, even if you're gran had water with her anti biotics, its possible the nurse will have needed to check before doing any more. If she was polite the rest of the time, I'd put it down to a crossed wire. Sounds even more plausible when you consider she came and (attempted) to explain the mixup to you when she realised what you meant.

Bago. It sounds as though you have either had the misfortune to happen upon a grumpy nurse, or there has been some kind of misunderstanding.

In all honesty, I don't think that anyone receiving this complaint would be that interested, considering that neither you or the woman you were concerned about were patients.
As you were both able bodied adults, its reasonable to expect that you might have gone to find refreshments of your own accord and as non patients it was not the responsibility of the nurse to provide them.

So many visitors seem to see nurses as overqualified waitresses or handmaidens these days. I've literally been approached by a visitor whilst in the middle of a resusitation attempt to be asked for a cup of tea!

What might be reasonable is you contacting the patients advice and liason service to talk to them about the over warm conditions in this room, and suggest that a water fountain in this area might be a good idea.

mmmmm so you see yourself as better than someone who didnt have the opportunities you had, did you say you were a nurse. thats very caring?

dunno if your talking about me, but i have a honours degree, probably better than yours. and for what its worth getting a degree these days is no big deal.anyone with half a brain can. (i did)

1. I didn't say I was a nurse,
2. I didn't say I had a degree,
3. when I made that statement my tongue was firmly in my cheek!

And I'm pleased for you you have "a honours degree", well done you :)

Bago. It sounds as though you have either had the misfortune to happen upon a grumpy nurse, or there has been some kind of misunderstanding.

In all honesty, I don't think that anyone receiving this complaint would be that interested, considering that neither you or the woman you were concerned about were patients.
As you were both able bodied adults, its reasonable to expect that you might have gone to find refreshments of your own accord and as non patients it was not the responsibility of the nurse to provide them.

So many visitors seem to see nurses as overqualified waitresses or handmaidens these days. I've literally been approached by a visitor whilst in the middle of a resusitation attempt to be asked for a cup of tea!

What might be reasonable is you contacting the patients advice and liason service to talk to them about the over warm conditions in this room, and suggest that a water fountain in this area might be a good idea.


Post of the thread so far - well said you!

Post of the thread so far - well said you!

Why thank you! Just what I needed after being called nasty names in another thread earlier!:)

I actually thought about whether the water from the toilet water basin were clean or not! Cos I don't know how they are plumbed in the hospital. I hope you can understand my rant under all the circumstances. Report her, and socially, it's seen crass as to getting rid of someone from their own job, or to get rid of someone from a most needed workforce. Yet, for someone not doing their job right. Just a good answer would be good. She can just tell me that actual patients are not allowed water, and I would've understood. Saying something in less than a minute doesn't kill anybody. Letting me know of what is the rule of the hospital or not, does not kill.

What also happened before we left were that the Dr who came to gave my gran the antibiotic and water actually gave a cup to the lady that I talked about, after she checked whether my gran was allergic to the anti-biotic or not. Now, why did that happen, if it was not discussed between the nurse and the Dr??

I just kept thinking of the irony. Cos if this lady was dehydrated, and something happened to her, she needed to get herself back to the reception, she would've been submitted and possibly given water to revive herself asap. :rolleyes:

I actually thought about whether the water from the toilet water basin were clean or not! Cos I don't know how they are plumbed in the hospital. I hope you can understand my rant under all the circumstances. Report her, and socially, it's seen crass as to getting rid of someone from their own job, or to get rid of someone from a most needed workforce. Yet, for someone not doing their job right. Just a good answer would be good. She can just tell me that actual patients are not allowed water, and I would've understood. Saying something in less than a minute doesn't kill anybody. Letting me know of what is the rule of the hospital or not, does not kill.

What also happened before we left were that the Dr who came to gave my gran the antibiotic and water actually gave a cup to the lady that I talked about, after she checked whether my gran was allergic to the anti-biotic or not. Now, why did that happen, if it was not discussed between the nurse and the Dr??

I just kept thinking of the irony. Cos if this lady was dehydrated, and something happened to her, she needed to get herself back to the reception, she would've been submitted and possibly given water to revive herself asap. :rolleyes:

As I've alraedy said, you may well have happened upon someone who for whatever reason was a bit grumpy. It happens all the time to most human beings.

The rest of your post to be honest doesn't really make much sense.

I wouldn't torture yourself about this woman losing her job over this if you decide to complain. Its a fairly trivial matter to be honest, and I can't see much more happening than you getting a standard letter of apology.

As I've already said, the most constructive thing you could do would be to highlight the uncomfortable conditions and make suggestions as to how they can be improved ie: a water fontain.

nurses are overated. some good some bad. same as any other worker. they do the job for money, not because they want to help. its more or less a job for life and i get sick of them whinging. its a cushy job in a nice warm environment. its not digging holes in the rain.



I was going to add to this thread, but I think I had better leave, or get banned. What is cushy about getting, verbal and physical abuse from crackheads and p***heads, and getting paid peanuts for it, I would like to know. Hospital staff, especially A&E staff, do not go to work to be physically and verbally abused, nor do they go to work to end up a casualty themselves as some lowlifes believe it is ok to use doctors and nurses as punchbags. I have often thought is it worth it, but the caring side keeps me there. If I wanted to fight, I would take up professional boxing, and earn more for 30 minutes in a ring than I earn all year, so DON'T TELL ME I AM IN IT FOR THE MONEY. If you think it is a nice cushy job in the warmth, get qualified and come and try it, and then see what sort of verbal diahorrea flows out of your oral orifice.

Bago. It sounds as though you have either had the misfortune to happen upon a grumpy nurse, or there has been some kind of misunderstanding.

In all honesty, I don't think that anyone receiving this complaint would be that interested, considering that neither you or the woman you were concerned about were patients.
If anything happens to that lady, then she *does* become a patient. By default. Yet, I suppose according to what you say, she is technically not one, cos she did not drag herself back to the reception to sign herself up as one? :rolleyes:

As you were both able bodied adults, its reasonable to expect that you might have gone to find refreshments of your own accord and as non patients it was not the responsibility of the nurse to provide them.
That is why I asked her, but she would not tell me! Which gets my goat, you understand.

So many visitors seem to see nurses as overqualified waitresses or handmaidens these days. I've literally been approached by a visitor whilst in the middle of a resusitation attempt to be asked for a cup of tea!
That is Ps and Qs going over the extreme. I do hope that is not how you see the situation that I encountered though. If I also didn't ask for water for my gran too, even before her taking the anti-biotic, she would've drifted unconsciously. Cos she was also really getting there too.

What might be reasonable is you contacting the patients advice and liason service to talk to them about the over warm conditions in this room, and suggest that a water fountain in this area might be a good idea.
Well, where is this department? Is part of the actual hospital? I do appreciate in knowing this, cos it was a potential situation to happen as well. Even despite the first nurse diagnosing my gran as having a faster heartbeat cos she was overheating. The temperature of the waiting room was even hotter.

Cos obviously, it is going to be a situation which will happen again and again. I thought that a running hospital would know how it is run, and what it can do to improve itself, and not be "part of the system".

I was going to add to this thread, but I think I had better leave, or get banned. What is cushy about getting, verbal and physical abuse from crackheads and p***heads, and getting paid peanuts for it, I would like to know. Hospital staff, especially A&E staff, do not go to work to be physically and verbally abused, nor do they go to work to end up a casualty themselves as some lowlifes believe it is ok to use doctors and nurses as punchbags. I have often thought is it worth it, but the caring side keeps me there. If I wanted to fight, I would take up professional boxing, and earn more for 30 minutes in a ring than I earn all year, so DON'T TELL ME I AM IN IT FOR THE MONEY. If you think it is a nice cushy job in the warmth, get qualified and come and try it, and then see what sort of verbal diahorrea flows out of your oral orifice.

you misunderstand me. im not dissing nurses,er well not much, just saying many others do a worthwhile job but do not get the same regards. police, bar staff, taxi drivers, bus drivers all get abuse frm drunks.

I actually thought about whether the water from the toilet water basin were clean or not! Cos I don't know how they are plumbed in the hospital. I hope you can understand my rant under all the circumstances. Report her, and socially, it's seen crass as to getting rid of someone from their own job, or to get rid of someone from a most needed workforce. Yet, for someone not doing their job right. Just a good answer would be good. She can just tell me that actual patients are not allowed water, and I would've understood. Saying something in less than a minute doesn't kill anybody. Letting me know of what is the rule of the hospital or not, does not kill.

What also happened before we left were that the Dr who came to gave my gran the antibiotic and water actually gave a cup to the lady that I talked about, after she checked whether my gran was allergic to the anti-biotic or not. Now, why did that happen, if it was not discussed between the nurse and the Dr??

I just kept thinking of the irony. Cos if this lady was dehydrated, and something happened to her, she needed to get herself back to the reception, she would've been submitted and possibly given water to revive herself asap. :rolleyes:


:huh:

Sorry but no one would lose their job over this. The nurse may not have been over helpful and a tad abrupt but this was not a sick person who had come in with dehydration. The lady in question was able bodied, and I assume able to voice her problem if required.
This has obviously caused you concern so as was mentioned earlier, the most sensible course of action would be to contact the patient liason service who take complaints seriously and follow them up.
Believe me when I say that what you see in the waiting room is nothing in comparison with what is being dealt with in the emergency room and this lady, uncaring though it may seem was not at the top of this particular nurses priorities.

storm in a tea cup.leave it its no big deal.probably stressed. its not worth the hassle to complain.

Well, where is this department? Is part of the actual hospital? I do appreciate in knowing this, cos it was a potential situation to happen as well. Even despite the first nurse diagnosing my gran as having a faster heartbeat cos she was overheating. The temperature of the waiting room was even hotter.



It depends on the hospital. Were you at the Northern General? They have a patient advice and liason service and you can find the contact details on their website.

With regard to the temperature of the room, most hospitals have some kind of central heating control that has to be accessed by works staff. Its very unlikely that it was within the capabilities of this nurse to reduce the thermostat setting. In the area where I work a change in climate will not usually see a change in the heating settings for at least 24 hours.

Whilst I appreciate this nurse was rude to you, I think you may be over reacting a little and exagerating the 'what might have beens'.

Please consider contacting the PALS team, as they'll be happy to hear your suggestions, but I honestly dont think they'll be that bothered about the fact that a nurse was a little rude to you and your assertions that everyone in the room was suffering from severe dehydration.

Well, I don't know whether she will lose a job over it or not. My moral dilemma was if I did voice my concern, whether it will affect her or not. Obviously, judging from opinions here, she won't. Which is fair enough. Then may I say, I wanna curse her for her crap bedside manner then... "£&$*"^£^!! There, I'm sure she won't remember me, nor will she care anyway. :rolleyes:

This is also the other point which made me think about the NHS as a whole. Which is that, there are small changes which does not necessarily need professional healthcare people to do, which can help make the process faster, quicker. Eliminating potential hazards which may happen in the actual hospital would be one.

I still wonder why you didn't just ask, "Excuse me. Can you tell me where I can get a drink of water?"

.. and what the answer would have been?

In response to the thread question.......either contact the patient liason service with the specific problem or forget about it.

This is also the other point which made me think about the NHS as a whole. Which is that, there are small changes which does not necessarily need professional healthcare people to do, which can help make the process faster, quicker. Eliminating potential hazards which may happen in the actual hospital would be one.[/QUOTE]


Then I suggest you contact PALS and highlight your points.

This is also the other point which made me think about the NHS as a whole. Which is that, there are small changes which does not necessarily need professional healthcare people to do, which can help make the process faster, quicker. Eliminating potential hazards which may happen in the actual hospital would be one.

And indeed this does happen, there are all sorts of jobs in the NHS that are more or less doing what you describe, but constructive comments from those who use the services are needed to show us what we could do to improve.

Your complaint really is about the attitude of one person in particular, and this is something that you're never going to be able to eradicate because those who work in the NHS are people with personalities, be they good or bad.

The thing is, just because some pne is a bit brusque, or occasionally unhelpful for whatever reason, doesn't necessarily mean that they are not otherwise excellent at other aspects of their job.

As I've alraedy said, you may well have happened upon someone who for whatever reason was a bit grumpy. It happens all the time to most human beings.

The rest of your post to be honest doesn't really make much sense.

I wouldn't torture yourself about this woman losing her job over this if you decide to complain. Its a fairly trivial matter to be honest, and I can't see much more happening than you getting a standard letter of apology.

As I've already said, the most constructive thing you could do would be to highlight the uncomfortable conditions and make suggestions as to how they can be improved ie: a water fontain.

Well said. Considering the stories you hear of patients being left on trolleys for hours on end because there isn't a bed for them, I don't think a nurse not falling over herself to get a drink for somebody who isn't a patient is going to be treated too seriously.

It would be nice if something positive could come out of the incident, though, so contacting the hospital about having drinking water available in the waiting room sounds like a really good idea.

Dozy

You know Scoop... you talk a lot of sense!

You know Scoop... you talk a lot of sense!

Ahh thank you.

This thread is a little poignant to me today as my son is now asleep in bed recovering from a small operation at the hospital that I work at.

All the way I kept seeing it from the perspective of a worried Mum, rather than a stressed nurse for a change, and kept seeing little things that could be impoved, but I never lost sight of how lucky I am to be able to trust the care of my precious boy to such an excellent set of dedicated professionals.

It depends on the hospital. Were you at the Northern General? They have a patient advice and liason service and you can find the contact details on their website.
Yes it was. I won't ask why you know such things. I don't need to know more about you, and where your comments fit into all of this. I rather be ignorant.

With regard to the temperature of the room, most hospitals have some kind of central heating control that has to be accessed by works staff. Its very unlikely that it was within the capabilities of this nurse to reduce the thermostat setting. In the area where I work a change in climate will not usually see a change in the heating settings for at least 24 hours.
In which case, then giving people water is the next best solution surely? Ok, some patients cannot have water because they need to be diagnosed, but does that extent to everybody? I see a flaw here somewhere.

Whilst I appreciate this nurse was rude to you, I think you may be over reacting a little and exagerating the 'what might have beens'.
Please understand that I am not after the rudeness. It was never about the Ps and Qs. So please don't twist this. I genuinely was concerned for the health of those people in there. If people works with proactiveness and not "what ifs", it may just give citizens some more confidence in the actual system. Dehydration and sleepiness go hand in hand surely? As did overheating, and increased heartbeats? To be honest, if that first nurse did not highlight this to me, I wouldn't have been so alert and is more aware of this issue when I sat there in that room, and noticed the people around me.

Please consider contacting the PALS team, as they'll be happy to hear your suggestions, but I honestly dont think they'll be that bothered about the fact that a nurse was a little rude to you and your assertions that everyone in the room was suffering from severe dehydration.
Yes, I will now that you have told me how the system works. I will consider it most definitely.

I won't waste my time on complaining to receive an apology, I am not that kind of person. What I will do is definitely raise this issue of overheating in a room especially where there are patients which may be affected by this.

Forget that. Some people are not worth it.

Yes, I will now that you have told me how the system works. I will consider it most definitely.

I won't waste my time on complaining to receive an apology, I am not that kind of person. What I will do is definitely raise this issue of overheating in a room especially where there are patients which may be affected by this.

Well that's great. Constructive comments are alwys most welcome:thumbsup:
I'm really pleased we've helped you to come to a decision about how to approach the situation, and eased your mind a little bit.

To be honest, this was not a public dig at anyone, but at the situation that happened. I did not expect or was after any sympathy, but was quite incredulous and did not understand a few things. I saw a situation which I thought fell within the remit of being an employee within a building. If it's not in their job to alert people who can sort the problem out, then whose job is it? Which was my point.

I'm sorry if this seemed to have offended so many healthcare employees here. Cos it was not anything personal to them, themselves. As they were not there.

To be honest, this was not a public dig at anyone, but at the situation that happened. I did not expect or was after any sympathy, but was quite incredulous and did not understand a few things. I saw a situation which I thought fell within the remit of being an employee within a building. If it's not in their job to alert people who can sort the problem out, then whose job is it? Which was my point.

I'm sorry if this seemed to have offended so many healthcare employees here. Cos it was not anything personal to them, themselves. As they were not there.

I hope I haven't come across as offended Bago:confused:

You did ask for opinions on the subject, I just thought I'd give my interpretation of what you've written and offer some thoughts on what will happen if you d complain and advise you on how you could turn the situation into something constructive if you wished to.

I get a feeling at the moment that you're still a little hot under the collar about the whole situation, maybe you need to come back to this thread when you're feeling a little calmer:) .

Often than not, healthcare employees will and do come back up with a justification of the situation, and does not necessarily see the patient's perspective too, which is why I said that, I hope that these readers can be subjective and not take too personally about it.

I was annoyed at her reaction, not because she did not mind her Ps and Qs. It was because my intent was to stop potential problems from happening, and her intent, was "it seemed to me" as stopping me from stopping something from happening. Which was why I did not understand her intent.

Anyway, I have said my piece now, and I suppose I will shut up now as usual, and keep it nice for everybody who uses the healthcare service too.

Telling someone to "chill" or someone to "go be calm" winds people up further too. Not that it matters greatly. Nor will I be wound up by the likes of Dozy here. It seems like some things cannot be discussed.

nurses are overated. some good some bad. same as any other worker. they do the job for money, not because they want to help. its more or less a job for life and i get sick of them whinging. its a cushy job in a nice warm environment. its not digging holes in the rain.

I must say it was quite sad reading a post like this.

What language problem? Have you actually ever listened to me talk in real life? What justification have you got to say that????

I'm afraid I can't respond to that, because it would be off topic.

Dozy

I'm afraid I can't respond to that, because it would be off topic.

Dozy

I went into PM mode. At least have the decency to address that, or to keep schtum. There you go. Funny how when it comes to your own health, you go and complain about it to your GP. Fancy that.

I went into PM mode. At least have the decency to address that, or to keep schtum. There you go. Funny how when it comes to your own health, you go and complain about it to your GP. Fancy that.

That's what GPs are for? :huh:

I went into PM mode. At least have the decency to address that, or to keep schtum. There you go. Funny how when it comes to your own health, you go and complain about it to your GP. Fancy that.

I'll go and check my PMs.

Dozy

That's what GPs are for? :huh:
If she can complain about her own health, why can I not complain about a nurse which affects many other people and patients? If indeed nurses are there also for the bedside manner handling of patients. As it is were, we were in hospital premises, and under their heating and temperature control. This was the whole point of the thread. It is not a hotel room, I do understand that, but it was highlighted to me that my gran was overheating herself. Never mind the other old lady, however fit or unfit, or tired or dehydrated she seemed.

Mod. note

Ok everyone, please. Let's keep things civil and on topic.

Mod. note

Well, that's that I'm afraid. Closing.