EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion The public perception of the NHS

I would like your experiences of what you believe the public think of their/our NHS. I now experience the NHS from a nursing point of view (my wife). I am gobsmacked at how the public treat the staff. I estimate 50% of ward visitors (patients, family and friends) are either rude or simply abusive to the staff. What experiences do you know of. The stories I know make me believe the public do not deserve the NHS and all it's dedicated staff.

Hello Steve
The incidence of abuse from visitors here at PAH is not high. We are a smaller Hospital outside the M25 and I think that location, size, and management of the Hospital all play a part in the publics perception. I think where there are problems, they become worse if they are not adressed by senior management. Unfortunately there are many people in management posts not fit to do their job. That may be the starting point.

Sorry - but I interpreted Steves message differently. The drunken &%&*(!¬ that show up in A&E on Fri & Sat nights and scream abuse at porters, nurses and other staff need a damn good (legal) slapping! Even when not drunk the abuse level is high. (Some) People think that due to the fact that they have always had the NHS they are entitled to treat the staff like dirt! My Mum & sister were/are nurses and I've heard it all. I especially love the 'bums' who have never worked complaining that their taxes pay for the NHS! - sorry 'bout the whine-ing - my jackboots are a bit tight... - or are they?

STEVE

YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC NOW.

I WORK FOR THE NHS

SO BUGGER OFF!+%$£$

CHEERS STEVE, SEE YOU SOON

Try working at a London Hospital where the security staff outnumber the patients. Did anyone see the Cutting Edge programme which followed the security staff here over a 24 hour period ? I think it was a true relection of the drug culture in London. Having said that the staff here are probably more secure than some that work in the leafy suburbs as at least there is a security team !

Anybody fancy adding to this one five years on?

Hello Geoff,

I have seen the NHS improve. I visit many Hospitals and the NHS has improved tremendously, and EBME departments have also improved.

John.

WHICH HOSPITALS HAVE YOU VISITED JOHN, THEY CAN'T BE THE SAME AS ME

They were the same ones that Patricia Hewitt visited.
Robert

Somebody wake him up! He's gotta be in a trance SURELY !