Support Stafford Hospital

[grumpystaffordguy]

Good as I'm sick of all the Stafford hospital negative talk. I probably have had as much a negative experience as anyone else, but they really don't need any more nails in the coffin. Lets not forget anyone can search google and read the posts we put on here.

 

[Alee]

i can honestly say i've never actually had a terrible experience in stafford hospital... i spent alot of time there through out my pregnancy and delivered there. i thought the staff on maternity were some of the most caring staff i'd ever met. A midwife named roweena delivered my son and i can honestly say she was lovely and did everything she could . she was brilliant and in my opinion in a credit to the hospital. last year i also took my son to a&e (he was 1 at the time) , he was in a lot of pain with his tummy. he was seen straight away and the nurse an doctors were brilliant. they did everything they could to find our the problem and were truelly dedicated. although, when i was younger and had my tonsils out i stated on the meal plan that a was vegetarian, when my lunch arrived they gave me a chicken sandwich. when i explained i was vegetarian the women told me to pick the chicken off and eat the bread.

 

[70-plus]

It's good to see the positive support for Stafford Hospital and particularly A&E. I hope everyone signs the petition. However, this is really a national issue because there are many, many A&E departments being closed down.

 

[Jade-clothing]

I've never had any problems with Stafford Hospital. On my recent trip to A&E when I cut my hand badly although the waiting room was full I was in Triage within minutes and was seeing a nurse and then a Doctor within 10 minutes of arriving. They dealt with me quickly and efficiently. I was there for 2 and a half hours and when I finally got out there were a lot of the same people in the waiting room that were there when I went it and the waiting room was still full and this was at 9pm so I'm pretty glad I had my accident before the closure, I wouldnt have wanted to have travelled in so much pain and bleeding everywhere!
I also have 6 monthly check ups for another issue and have to have an op next year and I'm always in for my check ups within 10 minutes of arriving and the new system for booking you in for ops while you are there is excellent. I know the hospital has its problems but I'm sure all hospitals do and Stafford has just been hilighted and now unfortunately has a bad reputation. Which is a great shame.

 

[supportstaffordhospital]

Good story on page 5 of the Express & Star tonight. Good press for the hospital can only help draw the right people to come and work at Stafford Hospital, we need our A&E. Christmas Tree is now in the foyer of the main Hospital entrance. Please email messages to info@supportstaffordhospital.co.uk.
Thank you for all the positive messages received so far. Cheryl Porter.

 

[Withnail]

Good story on page 5 of the Express & Star tonight

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/12/06/beleagured-stafford-hospital-wins-call-for-support/

 

[70-plus]

The bulk of the population in Stafford are now behind the hospital supporting it all the way. 13,000 have signed the petition and are keen that the A&E will return to Stafford. However, if people behind the scenes are in favour of closing A&E then it will be a difficult uphill task for people in Stafford. We just have to keep arguing the case for retaining A&E at Stafford.

 

[gilesjuk]

Well, have we ever been against the hospital? while it was a national scandal, that doesn't mean we ever wanted it closed. We just wanted its problems sorted out.

I don't think it's so much that the A&E has to close, it is that nobody wants to work there as it may ruin their reputation and career prospects. So if there's no staff it has to close as an under-resourced A&E is going to be dangerous.

 

[andy w]

The bulk of the population in Stafford are now behind the hospital supporting it all the way. 13,000 have signed the petition and are keen that the A&E will return to Stafford. However, if people behind the scenes are in favour of closing A&E then it will be a difficult uphill task for people in Stafford. We just have to keep arguing the case for retaining A&E at Stafford.

As stated earlier by another poster Stafford is a tory marginal and the future of the hospital is by far the biggest local issue and Lefroy(or whoever is candidate next election) will be judged by the re opening of the A&E and improvement in standards.

 

[supportstaffordhospital]

Express & Star ran two positive stories in yesterdays paper, an editorial piece and the main letter. All good! Newsletter covered most of a page andran letters all good aswell.

 

[Moby Dick]

We had cause to admit an elderly relative last week after a failed discharge, he managed 2 hours at home before I called 999. It was blackly amusing to have the ambulance 'race' to get to the A & E before 10pm, we made it for 9.50pm with security there to meet us and when we left at 1.15am had to patrol the hospital looking for someone to open the padlocked gates. Sad......

We have found all the staff excellent with the exception on one member of staff, not bad I thinks. PArticular memntion to little Sarah on AMU who was a patient and wonderful caring person who helped both us and our relative no end.

One thing that is evident when spending a lot of time in the place though is how drab and tired it is in areas. IS there a fund of sorts to help with this?

I thank all the staff for their help in very difficult circumstances and hope the resolution to this senario is not far away.

 

[Nicedave]

Any one know how the local drunks are fairing at night now the Police cannot dump them at (sorry) send them up A&E

 

[gon2seed]

Met up with a former Stafford Resident last night; he has lived in Norway for a few years, when I was telling him about my Sons experience at A&E, and Stafford Hos' in general, he looked surprised. It might raise eyesbrows, in the UK; but it obviously hasn't gone continetal, and he is in touch with family regularly in 'Ford.

Seems to me, its a bit of a chicken & egg situation. While the profile is so awful, you cannot get key staff to come! and a petition might not really raise the national profile of the place. I have signed, and of course I want an efficient/effective/good A&E in Stafford. But my experience with family at 'ford was awful, and that was right up to my eldest son going to Uni' in October! ENORMOUSE waiting, triage, ect. Wasn't shocked when recruitment problems, lead to the closure. Very, unhappy about it; just can't think of the correct solution. We want one, they need to improve, need the best doctors, I hope the petition achieves this result. We shall see!

 

[70-plus]

At the moment, A&E at Stoke has been full in the day and sending people to Stafford in the day. Walsall Manor is also closed and sending people to Stafford in the day! It seems like quite a merrygoround with ambulance drivers driving all over the place. It must be costing a fortune.

 

[wizzard]

Did you watch the news tonight, A&E is on target to be re-opened 24h before the deadline in march.





Admin edit: Post moved to more appropriate thread.

 

[proactive]

Interesting http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2011-12-20a.446.0&s=speaker:24760#g446.1

 

[Theorum]

I see myself as a seasoned pro with a wealth of experience in several departments of S.D.G.H and have never had any problems to moan about with any vigour...

I mean there has been occasions when I felt I could have been seen quicker but these were times when I injured myself playing various sports and had been in good enough health to actually think about the issue...

But with most things in life if you want something to improve its best to come up with positive solutions/improvements and not just slate it from every angle, resulting in the public losing faith, employees becoming disheartened, professionals shying away, politicians seizing press and by far the worst upset patients and relatives becoming bitter and twisted because everything isn't going their way...

Lets face it, we've still got the best and most sustainable health care in the world.....says I!

 

[Theorum]

Any one know how the local drunks are fairing at night now the Police cannot dump them at (sorry) send them up A&E

We need a booze bus and some mattresses!

 

[Withnail]

I mean there has been occasions when I felt I could have been seen quicker but these were times when I injured myself playing various sports and had been in good enough health to actually think about the issue...

John Moore-Robinson injured himself in a sport i am more than familiar with, and was sent home with a ruptured spleen...

But with most things in life if you want something to improve its best to come up with positive solutions/improvements and not just slate it from every angle, resulting in the public losing faith, employees becoming disheartened, professionals shying away, politicians seizing press and by far the worst upset patients and relatives becoming bitter and twisted because everything isn't going their way...

I wholeheartedly agree that it is time to take stock, acknowledge that things went wrong, understand why they did and make sure they don't again. What i cannot accept is any culpability on the behalf of those that sought to highlight the problems that existed in the first place.

It does appear that a lot of effort is underway to give us the health services we are surely entitled to - and i think Lefroy deserves some credit for fighting our corner (a bit on the late side - i have to slip in at least one criticism), and he appears to be properly on the case.

Lets face it, we've still got the best and most sustainable health care in the world.....says I!

Too effing right!

 

[Nash Ford]

Just seen this on the Support Stafford Hospital website and wanted to share:

Francis Report

We as a group have been asked to comment and be interviewed by the press this week on the Francis Report. We feel strongly that there are many others who are far more qualified to do so.

We do feel though that now we must concentrate on the future for our community. Our focus has always been on and will continue to be on a 24 hr A&E at Stafford. If this is lost the majority of services will be too. The knock on effect will be devastating for our community.

Let us as a community deal in facts:

1. Stafford Hospital is now led by a different management team. It engages with the councils, public and press. It is accountable.

2. 83% of staff would happily have their friends and family treated there. Compare that with more than twenty hospitals where less than half the staff said they would be happy at their hospital.

3. Note that Stafford and Cannock Hospitals have been doing Cameron's so called " new "family and friends test since April 2012 and that over 90% would recommend the hospital.

4. Our community wants local services for local people, over twenty thousand signed a petition for 24hr A&E services.

5. Let us not forget six out of ten people do not have access to a car, many live in rural outlying areas with poor public transport. We must not create greater health inequalities.

6. Specialist care is only required by the minority of A&E attendees. The vast majority should be treated locally.

7. This is not a specific problem localised to Stafford. Hospitals of a similar size around the country are experiencing loss of services.

There are opportunities for the public to become involved in the shaping of our future health services. It is up to individuals to engage in these and make their feelings known. If we are not careful, we may as a community be too late in preventing the break up of our hospitals and services.

Please write to your MP, councillors, the press, the Clinical Commissioning Groups who dictate what services will be and where (they hold the purse strings,) get involved in GP practise forums and tell your GP what you want locally. The more vocal the people the better. We need to show again that the community wants safe, local services for local people.

As Andy Burnham was quoted in The Sunday Times "the people of Stafford deserve a safe and sustainable local hospital." A sentiment in which I am sure everyone will agree.

Support Stafford Hospital Group
info@supportstaffordhospital.co.uk