'Intimidating' response to clinician's claims - say NHS hospital governors

“Misfit - PALS in my opinion, is without teeth and exists to make excuses for poor care. Going directly to the complaints department will elicit a more positive and constructive response.”

“What's the point of registering a complaint when even PALS only defend the indefensible lack of care? My wife recently had to suffer neglect on one ward because there were too few staff so instead of admitting they were too busy to sit and feed her most of the staff just chanted the tired old mantra that she would only respond to me which is absolute rubbish. when she is not very well she does need more coaxing but the surgical ward got her eating, sitting up and taking a few steps before she was sent for rehab where if she said 'No' to anything the staff just took long enough to record the refusal then gratefully rushed off to the next job having saved a few minutes but left my wife unfed and unexercised. A few were caring and helpful but even they were often ordered to go and do another job so close to the end of their shift they never came back

Althought rehab staff had been given a thorough handover by the surgical charge nurse including the "This is me" notes they blithely ignored the guidance and simply repeated the same tripe despite me clearly refuting their throwaway line and pointing them to the handover notes.

In the face of that obstinacy by the staff to ignore their own handover notes the best option was not complain but get wifey home where the care provider staff just look up the guidance then get on with it competently.

One previous complaint was fobbed off by the ward manager who lied - and I use the word advisedly - she wrote that my complaint about soiled bedding being left was a very brief snapshot although I had photos taken at the beginning of afternoon visting, asked the nurse to get the bedding changed but all she did was turn off the buzzer and say she would be back so i marked the sheet then on evening visiting the soiling was worse and the sheet was the marked one. the ward manager denied it had been left that long. A later complaint was 'answered' by PALS in similar dismissive fashion.

Harsent and cronies do not care about patient welfare, only making unsupportable cutbacks that endanger patients, hit their trust targets but contribute to their bonus plans whilst they dream up mealy-mouthed or spiteful attacks on those brave enough to speak up.”

“Well done Julius, you are only saying what we are all thinking. I am fed up with statements saying patients welfare is their sole concern when I personally have had many reasons to think otherwise, including a bodged operation that was fobbed off by Frank Harsent. I doubt if there is anybody who has not experienced bad situations regarding care of themselves or a family member or friend. You try fighting them & you will only get threatened to stop doing so & certainly won't get a proper investigation.”