Patient care 'gets us out of bed' says Gloucestershire doctor amid Stafford Hospital scandal
Gloucestershire's top medical director has said patient care is the reason they get out of bed each morning.
Sean Elyan's comments come in the wake of a damning report into the year of abuse and neglect at Stafford Hospital.
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Medical director Sean Elyan
Years of abuse and neglect at the hospital led to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of patients.
The medical director at NHS Gloucestershire says the county's hospitals are in a good place. He said: "The Stafford report highlights unacceptable care.
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"Here in Gloucestershire we are confident that the care we are providing does not emulate what we have seen in the report.
"I do feel we have good systems in place so that if we have patient concerns they can be openly looked into.
"I'm not going to say we are always right but you need to be prepared to change things to make it right if we get it wrong.
"I would challenge anyone who says they never make a mistake.
"We come in to work and look after our patients with quality care and that is what gets us out of bed."
Dr Elyan highlighted one case in which the hospital found a 'shortfall in care that was unacceptable' – but they quickly informed the patient's family and extra facilities were put in place.
Board members walk around the hospitals on a weekly basis to talk to front line staff, while the nursing director speaks to workers about concerns without a line manager being around.
The hospital says it encourages staff to give annual feedback on how to improve things.
The comments come just a week after a hospital whistleblower criticised the management and patient care.
Dr Elyan said he had been left 'disappointed' by the whistleblower. He said: "It disapoints us because we want to know why they couldn't speak to us."
But Dr Elyan, who is also a consultant oncologist, praised staff. "At the end of the day we have amazing staff from the nurses to the doctors and from the cleaners to the porters," he said.
"They all uphold excellent care and that is the thing that makes a difference."
Louise Crook, head of healthcare at Rickerbys Solicitors in Cheltenham, said: "Unfortunately the publication of this report comes at a time when Primary Care Trusts are being dismantled and the function of commissioning care is being shifted to the GP commissioning boards.
"On April 1, the Primary Care Trusts will cease to exist and GP Commissioners will have the huge task of making change happen.
"Let's hope that these new boards are able to establish a better reputation in order to regain public trust and promote effective leadership which will lead to the all important end result of better patient care."
3 Comments
by TheNub
Thursday, February 07 2013, 8:01PM
“a very big wage makes it worth getting out of bed sadly most of the loyal staff have had money taken off them left right and centre .while the pen pushers and other work dodgers are raking in the cash .”
by he-devil
Thursday, February 07 2013, 10:14AM
“thats an old picture of Sean!!! lol”
by gruesome
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 11:27PM
“Dr Elyan is living in a dream world. If he thinks the patient treatment is excellent I'd hate to be a patient when the system is failing. I didn't see him on the ward once while my Mother was in hospital for 4 weeks. He needs to visit wards UNANNOUNCED on an hourly basis not weekly. He would soon see what visitors have the misfortune to see - bells not answered, patients not given food or drink and not changed when necessary.
No wonder the whistle blower didn't approach him. Why would they risk their job and trust of their colleagues when nothing would be done. I complained to PALS and there have been no improvements in how elderly patients are treated.
I understand that 75% of patients are elderly. If that is the case then that's a vast number of people not being nursed properly or given any dignity. The word care is being used very loosely.
GP Commissioning Boards haven't got to do much to make an improvement. The NHS has been in operation since 1948 surely enough time to get things right.
It's not lack of staff. The only time the patients were being looked after properly was one night when just 2 nurses were on duty.
Shame on all of you who treat the elderly with such disrespect. Thanks to the few who make a difference.”