Hospital experiences in the 1990's as compared to now

L

LoveTulips

Senior Member
Location
British Columbia, Canada
So I have no complaints against any of the nurses and or doctors from the past or recently. But I have noticed some changes. I'm just wondering if you all have too. For example, when my dad was in the hospital in the 1990's and passed away there....I remember going into his room whom he shared with two other patients and when we saw the families of these patients, we all said hello and would chat about things. And if Dad needed a nurse, he could buzz for one and they would come into the room to see what he wanted.

Fast forward to 2022 and I had an operation for removal of cancer in my lower parts. I was on a ward and could see the patient and his family directly across from me unless we chose on either side to close the curtain for privacy. Well, that patient and his wife, never would say hello to me, although I did once.

And on the ward, if I went to the bathroom, and at one point did not know how to get to a further bathroom( because the closer one was occupied).... I asked the patients closest to the door who were sitting up and they said they didn't know but in a real nasty way, like why was I bothering them. They were reading so it wasn't as though they were in pain and I was bothering them

Another thing is that when I had to buzz a nurse regarding my stent, the nurses don't come to your bed at first which I did not know. Instead you ask your question within the intercom system which everyone can hear and can disturb anyone who is trying to sleep. I was embarrassed, (yes I know it is a hospital), but still to ask a question about your private parts and the stent out loud is a bit embarrassing.
 

Please don't let me tell you how hospitals have changed in the UK..... I could be here for a very long time... suffice to say the waiting lists even for cancer patients are very long.. and for a great many people there is NO ward now..only a bed in a corridor
 
hollydolly said:
Please don't let me tell you how hospitals have changed in the UK..... I could be here for a very long time... suffice to say the waiting lists even for cancer patients are very long.. and for a great many people there is NO ward now..only a bed in a corridor
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Oh my goodness, yes for sure, here too, people out in the hospital corridors. I know I was very lucky. I think it was mostly with my dad, strangers would come together to give each other support, I think that is my main point. Just out of curiosity, HollyDolly how was your most recent hospital experience, I mean if you don't mind me asking.
 

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LoveTulips said:
Oh my goodness, yes for sure, here too, people out in the hospital corridors. I know I was very lucky. I think it was mostly with my dad, strangers would come together to give each other support, I think that is my main point. Just out of curiosity, HollyDolly how was your most recent hospital experience, I mean if you don't mind me asking.
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well I can't really explain much about it... because I was totally traumatised... and I was taken to a different part of Accident & Emergency which I didn't even know existed, and is for urgent care cases with high trauma .. It is called A&E Resus , so I was being treated like a high ranking patient if you like..in an area with all seperate rooms .. emergency trauma.. and trauma doctors and nurses for each room, and each patient.. more medical staff than I've seen for years in the adjoining public Busy A&E dept...

I had exceptional treatment by the Plastic surgeons.. who attended to me at 2am, and repaired my arm and hand .... very painfully I have to say.. but if I'd been in the regular A&E dept , I might have waited for over a day in a busy waiting room to be seen by one exhausted doctor...

I could have stayed there, I overheard the surgeons tell the nursing staff that I can have the bed for as long as I needed it... but I wanted to get home as soon as I could and I did a few days later
 
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I can’t remember seeing anyone in a hospital hallway when I visited or as a patient myself. I have always been satisfied with the care and the nurse’s abilities and response time when called. I’m sure it’s not like that everywhere.

All of the CCU and ICU rooms are private with a bathroom and walk-in shower. If I go to the hospital, I get a private room with a bathroom and walk-in shower. My insurance only pays for a semi-private room with bath and shower, so I pay the difference for the private room. I don’t want anyone in the same room with me. Everyone likes to have the heat or a/c to their personal preference.
 
Sometimes on busy nights our ER gets overwhelmed and pts get treated in the hallway. We have a nursing shortage so they often hold inpatients in the ER which makes the lobby wait way longer.
 
worked in them in the 60's etc - they were always busy but efficient and effective - maybe our populations are becoming sicker and sicker so that service provision doesn't match popn requirements? Going private means you get better everything usually but it's costly?
 
LoveTulips said:
So I have no complaints against any of the nurses and or doctors from the past or recently. But I have noticed some changes. I'm just wondering if you all have too. For example, when my dad was in the hospital in the 1990's and passed away there....I remember going into his room whom he shared with two other patients and when we saw the families of these patients, we all said hello and would chat about things. And if Dad needed a nurse, he could buzz for one and they would come into the room to see what he wanted.

Fast forward to 2022 and I had an operation for removal of cancer in my lower parts. I was on a ward and could see the patient and his family directly across from me unless we chose on either side to close the curtain for privacy. Well, that patient and his wife, never would say hello to me, although I did once.

And on the ward, if I went to the bathroom, and at one point did not know how to get to a further bathroom( because the closer one was occupied).... I asked the patients closest to the door who were sitting up and they said they didn't know but in a real nasty way, like why was I bothering them. They were reading so it wasn't as though they were in pain and I was bothering them

Another thing is that when I had to buzz a nurse regarding my stent, the nurses don't come to your bed at first which I did not know. Instead you ask your question within the intercom system which everyone can hear and can disturb anyone who is trying to sleep. I was embarrassed, (yes I know it is a hospital), but still to ask a question about your private parts and the stent out loud is a bit embarrassing.
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Applies to doctor's offices too. Front desk staff act as if your inconveniencing them.
 
hollydolly said:
Please don't let me tell you how hospitals have changed in the UK..... I could be here for a very long time... suffice to say the waiting lists even for cancer patients are very long.. and for a great many people there is NO ward now..only a bed in a corridor
Click to expand...
Only a bed in a corridor without seperation in female and male patients was common already in the early 2000s in Germany. Especially during the winter season, as more beds were needed.
 
Working in nursing homes since 1996, I've noticed that if a nurse or a CNA doesn't come running into a residents room right away, after they put on their light, they sometimes get mad. I have often explained that there are other residents on the wing and some are being toileted or tended to in other ways. Sometimes the resident understands and sometimes they just don't care. They think the only one you should worry about is them. I and others have tried to explain that there are 29 or so other residents on the wing, and sometimes a very selfish resident will say, "I don't care!".
One told me, "I've heard that bull---- before!" I would tell him, "It's not bull----." They have to be more patient. Sometimes a facility might find themselves shorthanded some days, due to time off and illness.

I've noticed over the years that people in the nursing departments (nurses, aides) can get burned out after awhile. I've always worked in other departments, so I didn't have to go through what the nurses, CNA's, and even the helping hands had to go through.
 
I recently had major heart surgery and I can honestly say the care i got was 100% first 2 days after the op I was in intensive care , which is one to one care , then i was moved down to the next area where I was in an open cubicle with a nurse for 2 patients ,after that when i was well enough i was moved to a cardiac ward 4 patients to a ward , not mixed, I was greeted by the other patients when i arrived who were friendly and helpful to the point where one ordered my meal when i was not on the ward .

In the 10 days I was in I cannot fault the Staff from the nursing , surgeons , and down to the meal and cleaning staff .All friendly one Dr on his rounds came and sat with me a few minutes to watch the Ladies England football Final on the TV they provided Free of Charge ..

Ive had many a time in the last few years where Ive been blue lighted to hospital, and in Resus , what I found is if you are in need of immediate care then you are prioritized,
Theres been a problem with some patients getting to see a GP and so they go to hospital for care , which then fills the waiting rooms and corridors up ..
 
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