26000 Thanx.

 

 

I took this picture (design by Robyn G. May) on the beach at Bexhill, when I had my two weeks respite care and me and Robyn had some days out because (medical appointment) having a holiday just didn't work out for me.

 

When my final treatment failed I did think about shutting down the Blog, but there are so many areas of neglect in the NHS that need highlighting (like how a carer with cancer isn't told by the 'family' GP for three years, that there is 4 weeks respite care available every year).......so what I'm saying is that I'm going on, at least for a while.

 

I can't resist celebrating reaching 26,000 without putting my poem up again, which sort of sums up what the Blog is about - don't let them get away with it;

 

The Ankle Rankle

 



 I’ve got a problem

and it’s really starting to rankle.

You see, I hurt my leg

in fact, I broke my ankle.

 

The problem was my mistake

Oh what would that be?

The ambulance took my break

to St. Peter’s A and E.

 

Because instead of trying

to fix it there and then.

Some idiot, what was he was doing?

Sent me home again.

 

You can mess up a finger

You can bugger up a wrist

but only a consultant at St. Peter’s

would think a break was a twist.

The point however, is to actually change things. So far, after 2 years, I haven't. Oh, I complained. I complained everywhere I could. I even forced a half hearted apology out of the overpaid former Chief Executive Andrew Lyles, 'for poor communication'.

 

But I never got anyone in authority to listen to me; that this wasn't actually just about a silly ankle that there was a deep seated problem at Accident and Emergency.

 

Well, there still is. In the last year alone there have been two Coroners notices about unsafe practises at the A and E, which, if left as they were, would result in further deaths.

 

I'm still not happy about the safety of this unit.

 

So............

E

NO GRASSES HERE !

On this Blog there are no Finks, Grasses, Stool pigeons or informers.

If you get in touch, your secrets are safe with me.

Hush, hush.

On the quiet.

 

What can you do?

If you are a Patient; I need case studies of problems with A and E to force the Care Quality Commission to start an investigation.

E-mail me direct.

If you are employed by the Trust;

It’s time to blow the whistle on A and E.

E-mail me direct – privacy guaranteed.

Or you can Post an anonymous comment.

Anybody Else;

read, share, publicise this blog.

 Yeah, I'm going on!

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:   helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

 

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 



An update on my complaint against the hospital.

I’m in a grouchy, grumbling, annoying sort of mood.

It’s a year ago that I broke and dislocated my ankle – went to St. Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey by ambulance and was told it was a sprain. It was plastered up (ouch!) and I was left in a wheelchair at reception and told to get a taxi home. It was a long and painful week.

So, unhappy memories for me. How am I celebrating?

I’ve been waiting for my ‘meeting’ since February. That’s the meeting I was offered to go through any remaining questions I may have – believe me I have a few.

I phoned ‘Patient Experience’ three times and then waited.

When I finally got fed up of waiting I sent this letter;

Mr Andrew Liles

Chief Executive

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals

Guildford Road

Chertsey

Surrey

15/8/13

Ref; xxxxxx

Dear Mr Liles,

You wrote to me on 13/2/13 regarding the complaint I made about how I was treated by Accident and Emergency at St. Peter’s.

In February I left two messages with the Patient Experience team answerphone, in April I spoke to someone.

Still, no one has contacted me to arrange the meeting I requested. Perhaps you could investigate this delay and provide an explanation.

Yours Faithfully,

Neil Harris

 

I haven’t had a reply from Mr Liles, let alone an explanation – he stopped replying to me some time ago, which is why I’m happy to publish my letter.

Mind you, all their delaying hasn’t got rid of me.

After I complained they delayed 3 months in sending me the report. I responded immediately with my criticisms– Andrew Liles  delayed until February to send me a letter fobbing me off.

Now a long six months has passed and I can’t help getting the feeling they just want me to go away.

I have now had a call from Patient Experience – they have no record of my calls but I have now got an appointment – at A and E, for my meeting with a clinician.

I’ve got a lot of questions, although I’m not looking forward to returning to where it all happened.

Someone has been giving me a bit of moral support in all this and I’ll need to have a chat with them before I go round.

I'm about a day behind with the Blog - problems and things to deal with. Normal service to be resumed tomorrow.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:      helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact:   neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com