"Too busy to care"

My elderly father was admitted to Ward 22 SAU, supported by my elderly mother. My father's pain was acute and arresting. His distress, suffering and fear were plainly evident. After two hours, my mother desperately sought out medical intervention by scouring the ward for a doctor- any doctor who could help my father. She advocated for his suffering and distress and managed to get the hospital to treat him. Whilst she did, she noted that the abundant staff were not overtly busy or occupied, there was no sense of urgency or concern to draw them from their steady routine or casual conversations. Understandably, nursing staff become accustomed to seeing distressed and frightened people. This is their world. Their professional medical judgement, efficiency and competence is not in question. However, actively caring for people by demonstrating compassion and concern, actively supporting frightened and distressed people, actively showing concern for acute, debilitating pain needs no qualification, uniform or expertise, but humane intervention. There is desensitised culture on this ward amongst the staff and it has no place amongst the frightened and distressed.