just wondering if anyone else has had there operation at the northern general cancelled today or recently. i was meant to go in for surgery today but was told yesterday it was cancelled due to too many emergenfies.
i am very disappointed as i had got myself mentally prepared for this. i know it couldnt be helped and its just one of those things, but its very frustrating that i have had to ring work and tell them i now wont be off sick until a later date and my mum and my husband have both had to rearrange holidays from work, my husband so he can have our kids and my mum so she could come with me. i know have to start waiting all over again for another date for surgery.

I sympathise, I'm waiting for an op which has been cancelled twice.

I am supposed to have one on the 21st fingers crossed it goes ahead 3rd time lucky..

i once had my operation cancelled at the last minute, partner had time off work and everything was arranged, i was mentally ready for it, then wham they cancelled it.

Good luck for the next time

Never mind - at least you won't be going down with norovirus immediately after your operation! :)

It was on the news tonight that many hospitals around the country are cancelling operations due to that Nor-thingy virus.

i had mine cancelled last minute last march,, had the child care sorted, my partner booked time off work to look after me, sorted work out. They phoned me late on friday evening when my work offices were shut. I had to just turn up for work on the monday knowing i had no work to do (if you get my meaning) luckily for me they let me have my operation a week later at the claremont hospital. Hope you get it sorted soon

It was on the news tonight that many hospitals around the country are cancelling operations due to that Nor-thingy virus.

Yes, its getting out of control now.

I too have had my operation cancelled, which was suppose to be on dec 17th at the Northern General.
Ive just had to go for my pre assessment tests all over again because six months have passed , and because my medical records were not there , only temp ones, they had nothing to refer to.

i can understand the frustration but having worked at the northern i know they don't cancel ops for the sake of it. there are currently a lot of staff off sick and wards are shut. also this time of year is also a busy time for emergency admissions with not enough beds for people critically ill. if your op isn't urgent i think you are better off staying away from all the chaos.

just wondering if anyone else has had there operation at the northern general cancelled today or recently. i was meant to go in for surgery today but was told yesterday it was cancelled due to too many emergenfies.
i am very disappointed as i had got myself mentally prepared for this. i know it couldnt be helped and its just one of those things, but its very frustrating that i have had to ring work and tell them i now wont be off sick until a later date and my mum and my husband have both had to rearrange holidays from work, my husband so he can have our kids and my mum so she could come with me. i know have to start waiting all over again for another date for surgery.
my hubby had a tumour behind his eye a few years ago and was waiting to have it removed it was a week before xmas its was at notingham hed even got as far as having his pre med and was waiting to go to theatre then they cancelled god that was stresfull x i know it was out of there controll the surgeon was ill but it is verry sickening when something like this hapens because yes ure right you get mentally worked up dont you x

I was in th Northern General year or so ago, waiting to go to theatre to have my hand stitched up (nasty accident with glass that too bad for normal stitching) and went in at 7am to go to theatre that dinner time. it was cancelled and I had to stay in to keep my place in the queue and the bed. finally got to theatre and found out that it was cancelled due to emergency surgery on some man that was very badly injured. he was in theatre for 23 hours!!!!

just wondering if anyone else has had there operation at the northern general cancelled today or recently. i was meant to go in for surgery today but was told yesterday it was cancelled due to too many emergenfies.
i am very disappointed as i had got myself mentally prepared for this. i know it couldnt be helped and its just one of those things, but its very frustrating that i have had to ring work and tell them i now wont be off sick until a later date and my mum and my husband have both had to rearrange holidays from work, my husband so he can have our kids and my mum so she could come with me. i know have to start waiting all over again for another date for surgery.

thanks to inconsiderate peopel decidingto have medical and surgicla emergnecies, possible compunded by the complete inability of social services to deliver their advertised services, operations do have to be cancelled, hospitals try to avoid this as much as possible , including through use of private sector resources and through the use of dedicated elective surgical centres within the NHS estate ... however it does happen , but happens less than it used to .. but still too many

It was on the news tonight that many hospitals around the country are cancelling operations due to that Nor-thingy virus.

It is true that many hospital beds and wards are closed due to the Norovirus. However, this virus has been brought into the hospitals by both patients and relatives. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people visiting their already sick relatives/friends not feeling well themselves! PLEASE - use your commomsense ! If you have a streaming cold or have had vomiting or diarrhoea within the last 72 hours- stay at home. Better your loved one has no visitors than ends up your germs!
If you start with D&V and you are not either elderly, very young or have an underlying medical condition - DON'T visit your GP or A&E department and share yor germs with other patients and the staff! Stay at home, keep warm and wait for it to run it's course.

Yes, its getting out of control now.

Not sure I understand what you mean:confused:

i would like to point out i am not just a moaner when things dont go right, i would like to praise the hospital for the speed at which they have rearranged my cancelled operation, it was cancelled last sunday and i got a letter today for a new date on the 21st jan, which i have to say is very quick and i'm pleased with that, so praise where its due. i just hope this operation goes ahead.

Mine is on 21st aswell Blade, so glad to hear its full steam ahead!

It is true that many hospital beds and wards are closed due to the Norovirus. However, this virus has been brought into the hospitals by both patients and relatives. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people visiting their already sick relatives/friends not feeling well themselves! PLEASE - use your commomsense ! If you have a streaming cold or have had vomiting or diarrhoea within the last 72 hours- stay at home. Better your loved one has no visitors than ends up your germs!
If you start with D&V and you are not either elderly, very young or have an underlying medical condition - DON'T visit your GP or A&E department and share yor germs with other patients and the staff! Stay at home, keep warm and wait for it to run it's course.

Does this include the Nurse that sneezed on her hand and carried on handling equipment
the other day, despite hand dispensers all over the place.

Perhaps she caught that from a visitor?!

Seriously though, she should have washed her hands.

Just to add that i had another date for my hip replacement,op which was for 23rd jan tomorrow, alas this afternoon just as i was getting ready to go for my pre op blood test
a nurse phoned me and told me the op was cancelled yet again.
The very same reason i was told last time when my op was cancelled in dec, -no beds available.
What i cant understand is why patients cant be operated on by their surgeon at the thornbury hosp at ranmoor, my friend had her hip replaced there in may, by the same surgeon i have, he is based at Northern general but also does ops there.

Does this include the Nurse that sneezed on her hand and carried on handling equipment
the other day, despite hand dispensers all over the place.

Did you not ask her ? - it's everyone responsibility to challenge anyone they don't feel is behaving in a proper manner.

Yes i really should have said something instead of moaning on here but i guess i was afraid of a reprisal, with her being a nurse, i might have been seen as a trouble causer.

Yes i really should have said something instead of moaning on here but i guess i was afraid of a reprisal, with her being a nurse, i might have been seen as a trouble causer.

Better that than germs being spread around any more than is avoidable I suppose. On the issue of Thornbury - try ringing the Consultants secretary about the possibility of your op being done somewhere where the wait is less for you. If you've been cancelled before then it's worth a try! Good luck!

just wondering if anyone else has had there operation at the northern general cancelled today or recently. i was meant to go in for surgery today but was told yesterday it was cancelled due to too many emergenfies.
i am very disappointed as i had got myself mentally prepared for this. i know it couldnt be helped and its just one of those things, but its very frustrating that i have had to ring work and tell them i now wont be off sick until a later date and my mum and my husband have both had to rearrange holidays from work, my husband so he can have our kids and my mum so she could come with me. i know have to start waiting all over again for another date for surgery.

It's done quite deliberately they have to prove (on paper) to the government that the waiting time for appointments is short, the re-appointment then gives them a way of extending that time another few months.

Was Talking To 2 Customers In The Shop Today One Had Been Cancelled This Morning After She Had Rung Up At 6 This Morning To See If There Was A Bed For Her,she Trailed All The Way Up To Northern Only To Be Told Now There Wasnt One,and The Other Was Cancelled Last Week

It's done quite deliberately they have to prove (on paper) to the government that the waiting time for appointments is short, the re-appointment then gives them a way of extending that time another few months.

What evidence have you got for making this ridiculous statement?

What evidence have you got for making this ridiculous statement?

Possibly you should read on here how many people are getting this happen I have counted nine in this thread alone. Several have had more than one cancelled. On a more personal note I know someone close who has a regular appointment which gets cancelled just about every year, sometimes more than once. Not a ridiculous statement just the facts.:rant:

This is not fact. I have been involved in the planning of acute admissions lately, and can assure you it is because of the lack of available beds.
Every winter is the same, there are a far greater number of people admitted, due to flu, other viruses and most recently norovrus. Staff are affected as well, because these viruses are air borne. Staff and bed shortages mean one thing. Cancellations of elective surgery, to make way for hundreds of acutely unwell patients.

Possibly you should read on here how many people are getting this happen I have counted nine in this thread alone. Several have had more than one cancelled. On a more personal note I know someone close who has a regular appointment which gets cancelled just about every year, sometimes more than once. Not a ridiculous statement just the facts.:rant:

I have read the entire thread and I am well aware that several posters have had their operations cancelled. My comment was referring to the accusation that operations were cancelled without reason except to somehow fit a Government target !
In the area of the NGH that I work in we are, on a daily basis, working flat out to ensure that any cancellations are kept to an absolute minimum. Operations/ procedures are ONLY cancelled when it is absolutely necessary and, regrettably, this is sometimes on the actual day of admission. To have the luxury of knowing in advance that there may be a sick person in A& E who needs a bed or someone who was hoping to be discharged on that morning is taken ill and cannot go home would be a wonderful thing. Very little credit is given to hospital staff who work tirelessly day in and day out to 'juggle' the bed crisis and to prevent more cancellations happening. This is why morale is so low and this is why the NHS is losing some magnificent and dedicated staff on a daily basis.

Very well said Daven. It is regrettable when ops and procedures are cancelled, but sometimes unavoidable. It is an extremely stressful time for all who work in the NHS, compounded by waiting list targets hitting us on the head like a hammer. It is also extremely stressful for patients and relatives who have spent time working themselves up, and making arrangements in order to come in to hospital. Regretably, it's how it is when there are 60 plus patients in A and E and EAU, with no beds to put them in except planned theatre admissions.

Anabella - you are so right !...........possibly I know you ?????

If you look on this thread my Op. was supposed to be yesterday. It was cancelled. Details of this are on another thread.

What I'd like to know, is when you were deciding to cancel my Op rather than others who were having an Op the same day, did you take into account that this would be the third time I've had an appointment cancelled? Do you have that information available?

If you look on this thread my Op. was supposed to be yesterday. It was cancelled. Details of this are on another thread.

What I'd like to know, is when you were deciding to cancel my Op rather than others who were having an Op the same day, did you take into account that this would be the third time I've had an appointment cancelled? Do you have that information available?

If your post was directed at me then firstly, let me say that I did not cancel your op. I am not important enough to make such a decision. Who is cancelled is usually a decision made by your Consultant and is always made with regret. I suggest you contact your Consultant through his secretary to discuss this further - reminding them that you have had your operation cancelled ??? three times ? They should be able to give you another date at least.

I have read the entire thread and I am well aware that several posters have had their operations cancelled. My comment was referring to the accusation that operations were cancelled without reason except to somehow fit a Government target !
In the area of the NGH that I work in we are, on a daily basis, working flat out to ensure that any cancellations are kept to an absolute minimum. Operations/ procedures are ONLY cancelled when it is absolutely necessary and, regrettably, this is sometimes on the actual day of admission. To have the luxury of knowing in advance that there may be a sick person in A& E who needs a bed or someone who was hoping to be discharged on that morning is taken ill and cannot go home would be a wonderful thing. Very little credit is given to hospital staff who work tirelessly day in and day out to 'juggle' the bed crisis and to prevent more cancellations happening. This is why morale is so low and this is why the NHS is losing some magnificent and dedicated staff on a daily basis.

Waiting lists have been massaged for years, My son should have a appointment every six months it has been eighteen month between visits for more than the last ten years, each time his appointment gets cancelled he gets another six months later. My mother in law was given an appointment to come to you early last year finally made it late December after several cancelled appointments. Please don't tell me this is just a coincidence.
You must remember it’s not only your staff that find work stressful, it also applies to the patients and other services that get them to you. It applies to the patients themselves. Also I must add most professions have stress which seems to be the ‘in’ word nowadays; it’s not just limited to hospital workers. Perhaps more doctors and nurses and less pen pushers would be the answer then your targets would be more easily reached. Then perhaps morale of everyone would raise

Perhaps you have not met an angry patient or an angry parent who has wasted more time booking time off work to bring someone into hospital only to be told the appointment is cancelled yet again, although you do usually give more notice than that in recent years.

Waiting lists have been massaged for years, My son should have a appointment every six months it has been eighteen month between visits for more than the last ten years, each time his appointment gets cancelled he gets another six months later. My mother in law was given an appointment to come to you early last year finally made it late December after several cancelled appointments. Please don't tell me this is just a coincidence.
You must remember it’s not only your staff that find work stressful, it also applies to the patients and other services that get them to you. It applies to the patients themselves. Also I must add most professions have stress which seems to be the ‘in’ word nowadays; it’s not just limited to hospital workers. Perhaps more doctors and nurses and less pen pushers would be the answer then your targets would be more easily reached. Then perhaps morale of everyone would raise

Perhaps you have not met an angry patient or an angry parent who has wasted more time booking time off work to bring someone into hospital only to be told the appointment is cancelled yet again, although you do usually give more notice than that in recent years.

You know nothing about me and yet you are directing all your anger and frustration at me. I am a 'shop floor worker' who works very hard every day of my working life for not much money and I am confronted by angry people like you on a regular basis. I have also been at the receiving end of cancelled appointments and days off work wasted due to unavoidable delays and changes in schedules. Take your anger and frustrations out on the people responsible for the lack of beds - the Government, the folk who plan the budgets - even the sick people who have to admitted into hospital and 'steal' your bed - but not the 'plebs' on the shop floor who have absolutely no control who is admitted and who isn't.

Daven.

Anabella said she had been involved in the planning this week, it was aimed at her.

I have got a new date now, which I hope will end up in my Op. being done, but we shall see..

Navigator

Anabella stated that she has been involved in the acute admission side and not the cancellation of elective admissions

I hope all goes well this time. Make sure that everyone you speak to on admission is aware of your previous cancellations.

It's done quite deliberately they have to prove (on paper) to the government that the waiting time for appointments is short, the re-appointment then gives them a way of extending that time another few months.

hmm
except of course the 18 weeks programme doesn't allow that and is working towards ( and even some far 'worse' trusts than STH achieving) an 18 week or less referral to completion of treatment pathway

most ofthe problems in the health service in relation to bed avialability lie with social care - which although they have sorted their act out quite a bit can still add up to 10 days to a hospital stay without it being classified as a delayed discharge... lus ofcourse lay managers tryign to save money by not running support services 24/7

You know nothing about me and yet you are directing all your anger and frustration at me. I am a 'shop floor worker' who works very hard every day of my working life for not much money and I am confronted by angry people like you on a regular basis. I have also been at the receiving end of cancelled appointments and days off work wasted due to unavoidable delays and changes in schedules. Take your anger and frustrations out on the people responsible for the lack of beds - the Government, the folk who plan the budgets - even the sick people who have to admitted into hospital and 'steal' your bed - but not the 'plebs' on the shop floor who have absolutely no control who is admitted and who isn't.

daven my post was directed at you because you said that they don’t deliberately make appointments and then cancel them just to keep the figures right. Now you are saying you are only a “shop floor worker” and have no control which is fine and a good job you all do. But what you are saying is the “'plebs' on the shop floor who have absolutely no control who is admitted and who isn't.” you don’t know about the massaging of figures what I am saying is I do. You said quote “What evidence have you got for making this ridiculous statement?” All I have done is given you it. No offence taken and none intended. Just giving you the facts.

daven my post was directed at you because you said that they don’t deliberately make appointments and then cancel them just to keep the figures right. Now you are saying you are only a “shop floor worker” and have no control which is fine and a good job you all do. But what you are saying is the “'plebs' on the shop floor who have absolutely no control who is admitted and who isn't.” you don’t know about the massaging of figures what I am saying is I do. You said quote “What evidence have you got for making this ridiculous statement?” All I have done is given you it. No offence taken and none intended. Just giving you the facts.

How are you aware of these facts ? Do you work in Management for the NHS or is your information from the media? I might be a 'pleb' but I am aware of what is happening around me and I would suggest that your 'facts' are not totally correct. How do your fact tie in with the 18 weeks programme ? I'm not having a go at you - I'm just curious as to the source of your facts.

hmm
except of course the 18 weeks programme doesn't allow that and is working towards ( and even some far 'worse' trusts than STH achieving) an 18 week or less referral to completion of treatment pathway

most ofthe problems in the health service in relation to bed avialability lie with social care - which although they have sorted their act out quite a bit can still add up to 10 days to a hospital stay without it being classified as a delayed discharge... lus ofcourse lay managers tryign to save money by not running support services 24/7

The 18 week program allows pausing of the clock for non clinical reasons which has been the excuse that has been used to change the appointments on most occasions so yes it seem it not only allows it, it is used all the time.

http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/Public/default.aspx?main=true&load=ArticleViewer&ArticleId=1093

is the 'im a patient' part of the 18 weeks delivery programme website

www.18weeks.nhs.uk

http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/cms/ArticleFiles/c5z3pg454hhf1f45eexvkmnl27112007174722/Files/EWCL_patientleaflet_141207.pdf

is the quick and easy patient leaflet for the 18 weeks programme which explains some of the reasons where the clokc may stop

18 weeks is to remove non clinical reasons for delaying care


the national rules permit the clock to be 'paused' when a patient refuses 2 reasonable dates for appointments/ admissions

http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/cms/ArticleFiles/c5z3pg454hhf1f45eexvkmnl27112007180352/Files/18weeksRulesSuite_Rules_281107.pdf


there are no none patient related reasons for the clock to be stopped, although some are none clinicla e.g. the rules surrounding DNAing from appointments etc

Waiting lists have been massaged for years, My son should have a appointment every six months it has been eighteen month between visits for more than the last ten years, each time his appointment gets cancelled he gets another six months later. My mother in law was given an appointment to come to you early last year finally made it late December after several cancelled appointments. Please don't tell me this is just a coincidence.
You must remember it’s not only your staff that find work stressful, it also applies to the patients and other services that get them to you. It applies to the patients themselves. Also I must add most professions have stress which seems to be the ‘in’ word nowadays; it’s not just limited to hospital workers. Perhaps more doctors and nurses and less pen pushers would be the answer then your targets would be more easily reached. Then perhaps morale of everyone would raise

Perhaps you have not met an angry patient or an angry parent who has wasted more time booking time off work to bring someone into hospital only to be told the appointment is cancelled yet again, although you do usually give more notice than that in recent years.

See my post no.29.
Regarding your son, it would be beneficial to you to make an appointment with his consultant, and raise your concerns about his reoccuring cancellations. Perhaps he no longer needs a 6 month appt? That would be a consultant decision.

Waiting lists were , to some extent massaged in the past, but that cannot happen anymore. There are systems in place to ensure 'targets' are met, and that includes everyone. Believe me, there are several managers in every speciality, driving hard to ensure patients are seen.

More doctors and nurses would be good, but would not alleviate waiting lists, as it is bed occupancy that is the task. There are now complicated systems in place, streams of paperwork, and less families willing to or able to take care of their elderly relatives. Elderly patients can be medically fit, but wait weeks, or months for a home/social care.

We could look at the real picture, and history- if the tories hadn't closed most of the beds in Sheffield(and the rest of the country) the problem would be halved, or more.

For a city this size, we need more than 2 hospitals, and more beds for the elderly. Nether Edge, Lodge Moor, St Georges, Rivellin....................

It's all very well we have these leaflets and guidelines they look very nice, but from the posts on here and my personal experience it is obvious that it's not working. Don't you think you should be sorting it out instead of saying it dosn't happen and making sure it won't happen again? Then perhaps the figures will be honest ones.

Anabella - you are so right !...........possibly I know you ?????

Perhaps............

I give up........:gag:

It's all very well we have these leaflets and guidelines they look very nice, but from the posts on here and my personal experience it is obvious that it's not working. Don't you think you should be sorting it out instead of saying it dosn't happen and making sure it won't happen again? Then perhaps the figures will be honest ones.

No system is failsafe. Of course there are people telling us this happens on here, because the title of the thread has attracted them on to the subject.

It is unfortunate, but unavoidable within an environment that admits emergency admissions. If you had a relative who was seriously ill, and there was no bed, yet you know someone has been admitted into a bed for removal of an ingrowing toenail, how would you feel?

It's about seeing the bigger picture. It's like the patients waiting in Aand E, complaining about waiting for 2 hours, whilst, unknown to them the nursing and medical staff are resuscitating 2 people who have been in a car accident, hanging on to life.

It's horrible, when it's cancelled. I had one cancelled myself recently, after arranging time off work, childcare, and my husband taking time off.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust is one of the best in the country. There are thousands of success stories, as well as problems like you have experienced, but the successes far outweigh the complaints and problems.

I am sorry you have had such a poor time, it could be worth penning a note to the cheif exec-let him know you are unhappy.

I give up........:gag:

Don't ever do that Livewire!

<snip>

We could look at the real picture, and history- if the tories hadn't closed most of the beds in Sheffield(and the rest of the country) the problem would be halved, or more.

For a city this size, we need more than 2 hospitals, and more beds for the elderly. Nether Edge, Lodge Moor, St Georges, Rivellin....................


the beds that were closed in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s are not needed, however because social care seems to be unable to deliver ( and other than the delayed discharges stuff which is not a true reflection of delayed discharge as they can fudge it for up to 2 weeks ) and isn't either fined or subject to a high profile target ...

many of the beds closed over the past 20 to 30 years were not acute generla hospital beds ...

they were institutions, 'elderly care' beds which were basically still the workhouse ... and the institutionalisation of those with mentla health problems or learning disabilites ...

the growth in day case procedures and the reducation in length of stay for elective surgicla patients has also reduced the numbers of beds required in the acute general hospital secotr , preventing unnecessary acute medical admissions is along with reducing the 'waste' of bed days due to social care not being a 'pull' relationship with the acute general hospital are the final planks in achieving this - we have patients who wait several weeks while social services faff about - but still not a delayed discharge - which casues immense bed pressure

I can assure you that Lodge Moor and Nether Edge were not institutions! They were acute medical beds, many for the elderly, who came from RHH and NGH, freeing beds for more acute admissions and providing 'step down' beds. The elderly can be acutely unwell.

There was also sub speciality beds.

Remove all those and leave a gaping bed shortage, resulting in the problems aforementioned.

I can assure you that Lodge Moor and Nether Edge were not institutions! They were acute medical beds, many for the elderly, who came from RHH and NGH, freeing beds for more acute admissions and providing 'step down' beds. The elderly can be acutely unwell.

There was also sub speciality beds.

Remove all those and leave a gaping bed shortage, resulting in the problems aforementioned.

the elderly who are acutely unwell need acute general (or specialist) hospital beds - which is why we have the sub speciality within acute and general medicine fo medicine for the elderly with some damn fabulous COnsultants and nursing teams in hospital, but also recognsing that for a significant proprtion of the patient group in hospital care is not the most appropriate model of care delivery

they weren't acute medical beds if they were 'step down'

hospital is for people that need active hospital care not for people who need rehabilitation or social care

'step down' and rehabilitation care is best provided in dedicated facilities not in somewhere masquerading as a hospital with the scale factors which create the problems of 'hospitalisation' (e.g. the risks associated with HAIs , the way in which hospitals work rather than people being in small rehab units or having community rehab, community Nurses, and spocial care input in their own home... )

and also remove people from their community and dislocate them from their family ? would you an elderly parent to have to make 2 or 3 changes to visit the other parent in an 'elderly care hospital' which didn't provide hospital services or would you want them to be in a local commun ity based rehab placement - close to home or even in their own home recieving the meaningful input to rehabilitation and assistance with activities of daily living that the combined efforts of interemdiate care services can provide

it makes little difference if someone deteriorates in their own home or in an elderly care hospital remote from the main site - it's still a 999 trip to casualty...

please don't talk to me as though i don't know about things as a Registered Nurse working in Emergency care for the NHS in Yorkshire i'm perfectly aware of the issues, I also deal with acute admissions on a day to day basis ...although i don't currently work in the SY health economy i did train in Sheffield and have worked there

i had my operation on monday that was originally cancelled on the 7th january and i have nothing but praise for all the staff in the northern general theatres, even when i was sat waiting to be seen i was told there was still a chance my op could be cancelled as there was no beds. i was lucky to get a bed and my op went ahead, i stayed in hospital overnight and i heard the nurse say that on monday night alone there was 12 emergencies come in, so i have a bit more of an understanding of just how busy hospitals are. i would like to praise all the staff for everything they have done for me, even during the night when they were rushed off there feet, they still couldnt do enough for me. all the staff were so friendly and really made me feel at ease. everyone is always quick to complain (including me) when things go wrong, so i think its only fair they get praise when its due.

the elderly who are acutely unwell need acute general (or specialist) hospital beds - which is why we have the sub speciality within acute and general medicine fo medicine for the elderly with some damn fabulous COnsultants and nursing teams in hospital, but also recognsing that for a significant proprtion of the patient group in hospital care is not the most appropriate model of care delivery

they weren't acute medical beds if they were 'step down'

hospital is for people that need active hospital care not for people who need rehabilitation or social care

'step down' and rehabilitation care is best provided in dedicated facilities not in somewhere masquerading as a hospital with the scale factors which create the problems of 'hospitalisation' (e.g. the risks associated with HAIs , the way in which hospitals work rather than people being in small rehab units or having community rehab, community Nurses, and spocial care input in their own home... )

and also remove people from their community and dislocate them from their family ? would you an elderly parent to have to make 2 or 3 changes to visit the other parent in an 'elderly care hospital' which didn't provide hospital services or would you want them to be in a local commun ity based rehab placement - close to home or even in their own home recieving the meaningful input to rehabilitation and assistance with activities of daily living that the combined efforts of interemdiate care services can provide

it makes little difference if someone deteriorates in their own home or in an elderly care hospital remote from the main site - it's still a 999 trip to casualty...

please don't talk to me as though i don't know about things as a Registered Nurse working in Emergency care for the NHS in Yorkshire i'm perfectly aware of the issues, I also deal with acute admissions on a day to day basis ...although i don't currently work in the SY health economy i did train in Sheffield and have worked there

I don't recall 'talking to you as if you know nothing', you took it that way. I was correcting you on your alleged history of acute elderly beds. I said acute AND step down beds. Nether Edge and Lodge Moor accepted direct acute admissions from the GP. There were acute services available.This worked well.

If you look at the real picture, there are dedicated 'elderly admissions' wards, however every ward is populated by elderly patients who would benefit from a dedicated unit/hospital provision.
You say hospital care is not for people who need rehabilitation or social care, but if you were to look at bed population at the present, you would find elderly patients awaiting social care, and a number of them are in surgical beds as there are no medical beds available, which brings us right back to the thread.

I worked at Nether Edge, Northern General and RHH, and am now responsible for both sites.

You are right about care at home. If the services were there that would be perfect, but they are not.

Winter vomiting bug most likely taking over the place ... poor hygeine

Winter vomiting bug most likely taking over the place ... poor hygeine

Um, not necessarily. If you have the virus you're infectious before you get any symptoms, and it can be transmitted airborne, I believe - how do you combat that? Short of putting every patient and member of staff in biohazard suits...

Winter vomiting bug most likely taking over the place ... poor hygeine

A ridiculous statement - take a little time to do some research into this 'bug' and you will realise how silly your statement is.