"Infection Control"

Anything else?

I cannot help but be critical regarding infection control within the Wards of Lister. My mother was initially admitted following a fall but since being a patient has contracted nasty urine infections introduced by the invasive procedure of a catheter insertion. Previous to this she was a fairly healthy 88 year old . I work within the health care profession myself and it seems to me that it is an easy option to catheterise people for the convenience of the running of the ward , but on many occasions is not necessary. This in turn means that patients are left for longer with no attention , their mobility decreases and the risk of pressure sores increase. My mother was very poorly with the infection introduced and had 10 days of nausea and vomiting. This has resulted in her remaining in hospital a lot longer than needed and she is still in hospital with an infection that she did not go in with. Hand washing facilities and alcohol gel is around the wards and on the end of each bed, but is not being used by many staff. There is the use of material curtains around each bed for privacy but nurses constantly go in and out of the curtains with their latex gloves on , whilst in the middle of patient care. They are spreading infection with every touch of their hands! I wonder how often these curtains are washed if at all? Nothing gets done very quickly in the hospital and patients are left playing the waiting game. No one answers the call bells. No one brings the commode . Patients are left gasping for a drink . Medication runs out. Staff say they will come back and never do. No curtains up at the window. Patients that need feeding are not fed. I could go on but it would take forever! I just wish someone would address these issues which are so important and would save a lot of grief and money in the long run. I don't blame the staff as the majority are so kind and good and work very hard. But I do blame the system and the people overseeing this.