Dropping by to say hello/ Ipwich Hospital

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Dear everyone who reads this :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

I’m rarely on this forum now as I’m pushing on with life following my mum’s passing last summer. I’ve had loads to sort out and have had financial struggles - the caring life suddenly caught up with me.

However, I wanted to pop in to give you all a little wave and to say everyone here is in my thoughts a lot. I had such amazing support from you lovely Forum members and I’ll never forget it.

Also, as I’ve been able to slowly regather my strength, I thought I’d share with you that I’m currently looking into Ipswich Hospital’s stroke ward. I rarely hear good things about the place and I’ve been worried about their care for ages. The general picture is, the more severe the stroke, the less they care/ can do/ want to do. The stories make one’s toes curl.

I’ve also had helpful conversations with people in the NHS who have given me more insight into the state of the general sector. And I’ve also had a valuable conversation with a disability consultant who explained how the medical approach to disability is one of deficit (the person can’t do this, they can’t do that…they are a problem), and the social model is one of strength (they can do this, they can do that, they’re wonderful and should be respected). I understand the deficit model is integrated into medical education which isn’t a surprise (it happens across all areas of equality including race).

I’ve also heard stories of bullying generally across hospitals - the hierarchies get in the way of good care as more junior staff are too scared to challenge consultants. In other industries it’s much more acceptable as senior staff are only human and need to be challenged now and then.

I thought I was imagining it, but now I know it’s embedded, it makes sense that I had to push SO hard for basic support. Mainstream NHS sees disability as a barrier not another aspect of life as human beings.

I’m sure there are incredible medical professionals who buck this attitude, however, I’m yet to come across them in stroke. It’s one of the biggest ironies ever!

So I continue to fight for my mum and everyone else. I will do my best to get to the nub of things. But I’m also happy to hear from anyone here who’s had any dealings with Ipswich’s stroke ward - as mentioned, if someone could rehabilitate quickly, it probably wasn’t a issue for them so if that’s your experience you might’ve seen a very different side to the place.

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Hi @EMG72 & lovely to hear from you. Good hear you are starting to rebuild your strength following the passing of your belives mum.

You are doing a great thing by the sounds of it. I don’t have any experience of Ipswich Hospital so can’t help there but wish you well in your endeavours.

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Thank you for that post - as someone who had a dreadful time in hospital, I find it very comforting that I’m not the only one who, in corporate jargon, has “identified training needs” I wish I could have had some input to the skills sets that the staff required.

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Hi EMG - Good to hear from you.

It’s good you are continuing your efforts to improve the lot of patients in the care at the Ipswich Hospital’s stroke ward. I am not sure if this will be any consolation, but sadly, it is not just the Ipswich hospital where there is a problem. It is more widespread but there are pockets that seem to be less affected. The things you have found and discovered in your research are pretty much the same as what we have encountered here at our local hospital. In our case, the hospital started at a low (it had a poor CQC rating) but recently it has been praised as the most improved, though I have to say I can’t say I have noticed the improvements. But this is a large hospital and so there may well be pockets of excellence in other parts of the hospital - I suspect the A&E department may be part of that as it been newly opened after a refurbishment and they have built a new ward etc. The stroke care and the gastro remain sub-standard for the reasons you mention.

I have personally witnessed this on more than one occasion and it is very sad. Everyone knows it happens, but’s part of the system. As I have already written about this on the forum I will not repeat it.

Do carry on the good work. I am sure your Mum is smiling as she watches over you and guides you in your endeavours. Wishing you all the best :slight_smile:

:pray: