"Appalling care" in Gloucestershire hospitals due to mismanagement, warns whistleblower

“The same goes for you Mrs J03 - you ask why I didn't call for an update myself. If you re-read my account again you will see that I did at 7.30am however the nurse offered freeley to call me back with an update once he had been examined later...
Also you miss the point when you ask why I haven't sorted care - that was exactly what I was going to do if they had phoned me I could have spoken to the OT who would then work with me and my Grandad to arrange a care package for a period of time after he was discharged and mean that there is support for him when I can't be there. This is a usual practice in these situations. Again I do not have to justify my position to you but whilst I am more than willing to support my grandad I simply cannot be his full time carer. He is usually fine living on his own - just because he is old doesn't mean we just choose to remove him from his home and put him into care but at times like this he does need a bit of support and that was what I was looking for from the hospital. Genuinely amazed at the attitude of yourself here. The NHS is funded by the taxpayer (including myself) and having had a poor experience of it during this incident on the same day this article comes out I am entitled to share that experience and how it made me feel. You and Barney do not know me or my Grandad and have no right to jump on your so called high horses, point fingers and make comments to suggest I have some how fallen short of caring for my Grandad. Who do you think you are?!”

“Barney0123 - You are seriously out of order with your comments. You make personal comments about my relationship with my Granddad without actually knowing either of us. I don't have to justify the fact that I needed to go to work the next morning to provide for my family so please don't try and suggest that means I lack respect for my grandad - Really very silly comment indeed. Don't think it's unreasonable to expect a call from the ward (doesn't have to be a nurse) just to let me know he's going to be discharged. Your comments are well below the belt. Consider yourself reported you nasty vile little person.”

“take a look at how all the other services that we would have liked and tried to keep at CGH, eg paediatrics, maternity...you will see a pattern. Frank & his wooden tops will sell it to the public that they have sought public & staff opinion and given everyone a fair hearing to voice their concerns. he will wait until all the opposition and publicity has died down then he will move the service regardless of any concerns we may have. He will do exactly the same with closing CGH A & E and be warned, emergency surgery will follow. I applaud the whistle blower, many staff want to speak out but the bullying tactics of the trust make everyone afraid. everything that was said is true and staff are powerless. it will always be sold that these moves are in the public interest....dont be fooled, the caring staff who have given years of dedicated service have the public's interest at heart. Jobs will be lost, nurses with years of experience bullied into taking positions that will not be using their skill sets. these decisions will all be down to the money not the public's best interest. shame on you Frank ! we have no confidence in you.”

“Dignity, respect, and care goes out of the window when 'bed' management get involved at GRH & CGH to clear beds. It is worst on the so called Elderly Care Wards. The most vulnerable of our society are the ones that suffer the most as they tend not to have anyone to advocate on their behalf. The Care Quality Commission are a joke as they did an inspection a while ago and gave the hospitals a good review! Start a campaign TIG and hold those responsible to account.”

“by MrsJ03---------------Wht does it have to be a nurse that phones BARCABOY-plenty of ancillary non-medical staff to do this in the hospital (I know, because I used to work there as one!)”

“Thank God for the clinician!!! My mother was discharged to her home to be on her own with no heating in November and no-one told she had been discharged, including the GP. The level of care she and others on the ward experienced was bad and at times verged on bullying. Dirty dressings left for hours. Patients weren't helped to eat. Staff had time to discuss their social lives and how much more the bank nurses were earning compared to them. She improved when she was in the community hospital where she was cared for and talked with as a human being with dignity.”

“Take a look at what's just been announced today with regard to the future of Lewisham A&E.
I fear that Cheltenham A&E will go the same way regardless of the strength of local opposition.”

“Mr Harsant needs sacking, he takes home an obscene salary for not a lot of work, he should be on nurses pay and made to do some proper work rather than drinking coffee all day and playing games over which service to cut next...”

“Dr Frank Harsent, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says:
"It is important to remember our Trust operates as part of the wider NHS and we play our part within that structure. While we can understand individuals may be frustrated with the complex systems in place throughout the health service, as a public sector organisation it is our duty to implement these."

He may be a doctor but he speaks like a mindless bureaucrat for whom the application of systems is more important than the outcome. When faced with accusations of incompetence or malpractice the first response of the NHS is to deny, stall, prevaricate and cover-up.

Will Dr Harsent promise an immediate, open and independent investigation of these claims or will he simply hide behind his carefully built management ramparts, poking his head up only briefly to toss out some management gobbledegook about systems and procedures before disappearing back into his bunker?”

“lets have a vote of no confidence in frank and the rest of the wooden tops sorry i mean the money grabbing board of directors . if frank went that would free up £200.000 at least then get rid of sarah and ian that would save another £250.000 .what do they actually do to warrant such huge pay packets from what i have seen of ian he just goes between CGH and GLOS ROYAL sight seeing how much of his working day is work and how much is travelling .he is in the last year of a 3 year contract lets hope there are no strings pulled and he does not get his contract extended.in just over 2 years what has he achieved nothing has not got a clue if it looks good on paper then that will do but in practice it does not .”