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Care Opinion

I think all day visiting is wrong

Posted By Shy embarrassed lady

"I think all day visiting is wrong"

About: University Hospital Wishaw / General Surgery (Wards 16-18)

(as a service user),

I recently was discharged from ward 17 of Wishaw General. I think all day visiting is putting pressure on nurses, doctors and all ward staff and not to forget the patients.

I think that all day visiting should be kept for palliative care only. One bed had a visitor from 8am to lights out. Another had 8 chairs around the bed with others sitting on bed. The noise was awful. Using the toilet is embarrassing enough with patients but with visitors, it's worse.

I feel Doctors having to discuss private information in front of visitors is wrong. I also feel it's not right for Nurses, doctors and all ward staff ( patients too) to put up with visitors coming and going all day - is totally wrong. Some are bringing in carryout pizzas, Chinese and Indian food which smell and not good if feeling unwell.

I must say Staff nurse Morven(?) is an amazing young nurse; always with a lovely smile, totally professional and working non stop. Mr James is an amazing Doctor as is surgeon Mr Younes. A credit to the service. So caring!   

I would like for all day visiting to end ASAP.  


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Responses

Response from Gillian McAuley, Chief of Nursing Services, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 6 years ago
Gillian McAuley
Chief of Nursing Services, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 26/10/2017 at 15:11
Published on Care Opinion at 16:58

picture of Gillian McAuley

Dear Shy embarrassed lady,

Thank you for your kind words recognising the professionalism of the staff looking after you, I will share your feedback with them personally and I’m sure they’ll join me in wishing you well with your convalescence.

The approach to visiting varies across Scotland between Health Boards and indeed between hospitals within the same Health Board. NHS Lanarkshire was the first to sign up to John’s Campaign in 2015; find out more here https://www.careopinion.org.uk/blogposts/456/we-are-listening---to-johns-campaign

We are committed to all our patients and families affected by dementia and our pledge ensures they are able to be together without restriction. It’s proven that this approach is beneficial to patient outcomes as well as for families. As you mention, we always permit access for families around the clock if their relative is receiving palliative or end of life care.

This approach has enabled staff and relatives to work together and support each other to provide truly person-centred care. The decision to move to open visiting was as a result of the positive patient outcomes we saw with this approach and to reduce confusion and frustration for patients and families who did not fall into these categories.

I recognise and acknowledge the feedback you have provided and I apologise for any embarrassment or upset you experienced. Some of the things you have highlighted are not acceptable and are certainly not our vision for open visiting; yet they are challenges faced daily by staff regardless of what the time is on the clock. We clearly need cooperation from visitors for this to be successful and I accept that it might not be right for some patients; particularly those in shared rooms.

We do have guidelines of two visitors per patient at a time to ensure there are enough chairs so visitors don’t sit on beds as this can increase the risk of introducing infection into hospital; it also helps regulate the noise in a room.

We also recognise the importance of maintaining confidentiality and people’s privacy and dignity and will ask people to leave the room when people are receiving personalised care. We have produced information posters to inform visitors of this and I would be keen to hear from you if this was not your experience.

I’m aware that some families bring food and will discuss this with the ward teams as clearly this can have negative implications for other patients, we need to ensure we are sensitive to this.

I meet with ward managers regularly and the benefits and challenges associated with visiting are discussed, as well as any feedback we receive from patients and families, so we are constantly evaluating this.

If you’d like to get in touch to discuss any aspect of your stay please contact my Patient Affairs department on Tel No: 01698 366558.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Shy embarrassed lady (a service user)

I totally agree for parliative care and for those whom are working to be given permission to visit out with normal hours. Nurses doctors and ward staff have enough to do with out running after visitors and children whom are not Ill. I have spoken to loads of people since coming out of hospital and have had a 100 % response to my feeling and that of other patients in ward.

The nursing staff were fantastic but do I think they not need the extra pressure of all day visiting. I feel it prolongs our stay in hospital, sorry that's my opinion, I get amazing treatment from different departments but truly feel sorry for staff after being in management myself. Untold stress and that is totally unnecessary in this day and age. It's common sense.

Thank you for your reply it's much appreciated. I have family in the Nhs and have dedicated their lives to sick people and NHS. Some have resigned as had enough. Management need to stand their ground and I'm sure will be really surprised by the response. Thank you 😍

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