[Closed] Horrible Patients in Hospitals

I might add that she could well have a serious mental illness, in which case I can understand the behaviour, but it does not make the staff job any easier - especially when they have 8 high dependency patients to support

Probably not much

As I'm sure you are - just be courteous, pleasant and so on to the staff dealing with you

Healing vibes

Your support won’t go unnoticed or unappreciated Saxon.

A bit like school when you were a kid it puts all those people that would otherwise live in different worlds back in the same room again. 3 years ago my appendix burst. Waiting for a scan or something in a ward off A&E my bed was rolled next to another patient. He had a policeman minder and evidently had been glassed in the face and upper torso on his doorstep by his drug dealer. Or he was the drug dealer and it was his supplier that did the glassing. 200 stitches in his face alone and clearly a very unpleasant individual and could not have been ruder to the people trying to help him. Even through the quite impressive level of drugs I remember thinking how do these people do this job and also what a thoroughly bizarre world I had just entered!

Wee in her slippers

Its difficult, but often the difficult patients have differing levels of mental health issues on top of their physical problems. All you can do as a neighboring patient is think 'thank f**** its not me like that'. Everyone has a right to good health care and it is difficult for the staff, but once you start picking and choosing who gets the health care, you open a whole nasty can of worms.

Did a tour of my local hospital A&E, minor injuries bit a while ago. I've never seen so many fat diabetics with limbs that look like they're rotting away! A women sat two seats away from me at the x-ray department pissed herself while waiting. They plonked me on a gurney next to a treatment cubicle, in a corridor, curtain separating me from an old women who was having colostomy bag problems, I could hear the conversation as well as sample the aroma!

A truly grim experience. Good thing they had given me some of that sweet wonderful morphine nectar! The state of some of the poor bastards in there, puts things in perspective and gives you an insight into the grim realities of old age and bad health.

I’ve been in the same ward a few times now (I’m out at the moment!) and the first time I went in they just put me in the first available bed (there was a thread on it...) but as I’ve been nice all the times I’ve been in, I’ve noticed the nurses (all of whom I’m now on first name terms with) have put me in with the chaps that aren’t up all night screaming, shitting/pissing themselves or generally not being very nice to be within 10 yards of. Even a private room if one is available.

The general theme among the arseholes does seem to be that they all think that by being in hospital they are doing the staff a favour, and it’s a big inconvenience for them so they should be grateful. the number of older blokes that talk down to the nurses, as they are asking questions/giving out meds etc is ridiculous, they let it be known that they are fully pissed off at having to tell a nurse, whom they have never met, what pain killers they would like, as ‘I told whatserface this morning!!’.

I'm a nurse, started training in NHS in 1996 and worked in it until this March, private sector now. In that time worked loads environments and ended up 12yrs itu. Encountered all sorts of punters with all attitudes.

Sometimes it's their condition, sometimes the meds or some peoples are just aresholes - my overriding attitude  and most of my colleagues was - not my place to judge and all get the same care. Though people like you do get noticed and the 'nice' patients were appreciated as it made the day easier, though ultimately same care given.

I'm a big bloke, so often got given the more arsehole type punters as they seemed to behave better for some reason though 😁, especially the brave ones picking on the meeker colleagues.

Welcome to my world!

The world where service users believe their sense of entitlement is everybodys primary aim/role ... where taking some level ownership of their own duties in regards to themselves is an insult to their ears.

SR why don't you tell that malingering old bag what you think of her or give her some instruction on how to conduct herself in a polite manner?

She will sit in her bed for half an hour at a time moaning, “Excuse me!” over and over again

Some people on here are like that.

But for days....

Always pisses me off. Spent a lot of time on the children’s ward with Funk Jr in the first two years and ended up on first name terms with a lot of the staff. Bloody brilliantl people doing a phenomenal job. Taking the piss out of them by being a dick just grates.

You should definitely wee in her slippers SR. Even better, have all your kids come visit at once and annoy her.

My good lady works as a Community Nurse & some of the abuse they have to put up with is staggering. Often its not from patients but from their relatives. Just being polite & civil is not unreasonable in my opinion, but many cant even manage that. Some patients are a two person visit purely because of the hassle in dealing with complaints because someone smells a compensation claim. They are easy targets. Locally they have the right to withdraw care if staff are abused but spineless area management then step in & order that it is re-started, for fear of a bigger claim.

She is pretty much immune to it these days though, & the appreciative patients generally do make up for it.

A couple of years ago, I had a week long stay after fracturing my spine in a motorbike accident (T7 for those who are curious). And I'll have to mention as the wife won't let me forget, this happened less than two weeks from our wedding.

Sadly from my experience it seems that 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease'. Both the regular patients and staff seem to know this. The nurses in the ward I was stuck in admitted that I'd have been out quicker if I wasn't so laid back about the whole thing, and kicked up a fuss.

Though it was more I didn't have chance to bother them about it. Work had me to working from the hospital under duress (i.e. a you'll only get SSP if you don't work remotely). So that along with trying to assure the wife that id be out in time to get married, kind of prevented me from bothering the staff there too much.

Just for completeness, I got out two days before the wedding, and it only effected our honeymoon, which we're still re-planning. Oh, and in some bitter irony, our wedding venue happened to be the Motorcycle museum in Birmingham.

She is like a child in her demands, and if she dows bother what she wants immediately, then she actually cries.

She could actually be ill and on some mind altering drug of unknown description.

I’m not going to judge your opinion of her (or anyone else there whining)

But hospitals aren’t normally filled with people of healthy mind and body.

Anyway, bored of TV yet?

There is no justification for aggressive and nasty behaviour or abuse of health staff - unless they behave similarly themselves.  The latter something I sadly have experience of...

However, I think we should all bear in mind that some people do not deal with stress, anxiety or pain well.  Many patients could be experiencing one or more of those and may not behave as they would usually.  Whilst it’s not ideal, it can be understandable.

I know he has a Netflix sub, so he needs to check out the Marvel series and also Sabrina which is awesome and quite a serious critique of the Catholic church.

I've witnessed an agressive drunk who couldn't see out of one of his smashed eyes be unceremoniously ejected from glasgow royal.

OP order them a stack of pizzas delivered. Though HDU you might need to ask permission first.

Spent 6 1/2 weeks in a spinal ward 3 years ago.  Patients were generally OK.

3 main 'types' - cancer patients - it had spread to their spines - terribly sad, old folk with falls/dementia, and us younger lot that have fallen doing sport/work.

There were 4 on my ward.  We had one guy that was in with a broken shoulder, 2 of us with bad spinal breaks (one bike crash and another lad fell down his stairs) and another guy that had had cancer previously, but had collapsed whilst out Christmas shopping - was told he'd never walk again.

The chap next to me with the cancer nearly died one night - massive bleed.  Old guy with broken shoulder was demanding a consultant, even though the ones on ward were spinal, and attending the guy that had nearly died.  I told him to be quiet as he wasn't a priority, and you've only got a broken shoulder - the guy over here has nearly died.  He was quite rude to me and others so I let rip, told him what a nasty old man he was, and he wouldn't be talking to me like that if I could get out of bed.  The staff could see I was getting worked up by how nasty he was so I got a quiet room for a couple of days until he went, then moved back in.

One poor guy had dementia, but it wasn't picked up until someone found him after a fall - he'd somehow managed on his own until then.  Thing is he didn't know where he was and kept getting out of bed.  I kept an eye on him and would ring the call button if he got up. Over the weeks I'd managed to be able to talk him back into getting back into bed as he had fallen a few times.  Poor sod.

There are some entitled twits on wards.   I bumped into one of the Nursing Assistants at my place of work as she is now on the Nursing Degree programme.  She knew I worked at the Uni, but 3 years later, she spotted me and came running over to see how I was doing.  I asked how the heck had she remembered me as she must see loads of patients - she said they normally remember the ones who had been in a while.

I can't thank the staff enough - they really looked after me and ensured my injury didn't get worse and was able to walk out of the ward at the end of my stay.

Many a time, there was only two qualified Nurses on a ward of 16 patients, just the bear minimum to administer drugs.  Most staff are Nursing Assistants.

Over the six weeks we just had two idiots - i.e. no underlying mental issues.  One guy refused to get out of bed after the metal work was put in, so the consultant, who was over 6 foot tall, just picked him up and put him in a chair.  Once the metal work is in, you are up, like it or not.

Argh, hospital TV - bloody expensive, I also had Amazon Prime, so watched about 3 series of Walking Dead - quite apt really.  I had to bring in our 'Mifi' box to get internet.

First 3 weeks were a bit of a blur, copious amounts of drugs, and used to look forward to the drug round.  Morphine, lots of it.

chestercopperpot

Did a tour of my local hospital A&E, minor injuries bit a while ago. I’ve never seen so many fat diabetics with limbs that look like they’re rotting away! A women sat two seats away from me at the x-ray department pissed herself while waiting. They plonked me on a gurney next to a treatment cubicle, in a corridor, curtain separating me from an old women who was having colostomy bag problems, I could hear the conversation as well as sample the aroma!

A truly grim experience. Good thing they had given me some of that sweet wonderful morphine nectar! The state of some of the poor bastards in there, puts things in perspective and gives you an insight into the grim realities of old age and bad health.

I love your assumption that all people who are obese with diabetes are so because of a conscious choice rather than background health issues. If your comeback is going to be 'there were no fat people in concetration camps' there were also no people who died of cancer but look at what a killer that is currently. I also love the fact that you think these people were 'poor bastards' and you seem to imply that these were implications purely of either old age or bad health rather than unfortunate circumstances. One can only assume that you were a delightful person to behold in that environment. Did you manage to suitably look down your nose at everybody?

@Golfchick - It's a turn of phrase not an insult. I felt sorry for the people who were really ill, put's things in perspective as I said.

I'm also well aware there are different types of diabetics and a whole a raft of reasons people end up the way they do. All the patients I saw with black and purple thread vein covered limbs (mainly legs) were obviously obese and I've never seen as many people in that state anywhere else in my life.

I was polite and had a good laugh with staff who were all good natured. A few were mountain bikers to boot! Even bumped into a an old school friend I'd not seen for years. Non the less it wasn't the most pleasant experience I've had and I was glad to be out of the place. It's a tough job I couldn't do it!

What's all this about cancer and concentration camps, what the **** are you on about?

Strangely hospitals cant choose not to admit patients, and a bed is a bed on a ward in a hospital, mates mum was placed into the maternity wing, after suffering a broken hip,as no other beds where available, she was 84.

All the patients I saw with black and purple thread vein covered limbs (mainly legs) were obviously obese

Maybe both were symptoms of some other issues?

and I’ve never seen as many people in that state anywhere else in my life.

They probably don't want to leave the house as they're afraid of being judged by everyone.  They'd certainly have a point wouldn't they?

Maybe.

Argh, hospital TV – bloody expensive

Que?

You have to pay to watch Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip ??

😳🤦‍♂️📲

Never an angel of death when you want one...

Never an angel of death when you want one…

Funny you should say that....

My wife is a nurse, came home from a dayshift on Saturday worn out.  She had a nightmare day, short staffed and very busy.  Her patient was the most horrible old scrote she could ever remember dealing with.

Not violent or anything, just really horrible.  A biitter and twisted, awkward old shitebag.  She expected he'd be dead within a few weeks, meaning she might have the joy of dealing with him again on the nightshift tonight.

She actually found it quite disturbing how someone at that age, and seriously ill, could continue to be so horrible right to the bitter end.  This wasn't just drugs making him go strange, she's well aware of that.

In eighteen years, I've never seen her so affected by someone at work.

But, she was talking to a work colleague yesterday, and the git had croaked overnight.  Go angel of death!

but is their anything the staff can do to defend themselves against this horrific treatment?

They could man up.  Don't know a nurse that would take shit like that.  lucky she doesnt have my mum (RIP) on the ward

A mate of mine has spent months in the 'Department of Medicine for Older People' - mainly as he had abscesses from Type 1 diabetic neuropathy.  Ended up with a tiny pin prick hole, that developed into big wounds that infected his bones - he's lost all his toes over a period of time.

Because of the 'problem', he had to go on that particular ward as 'leg ulcers' etc are a common issue with old folk.  His experience wasn't great due to the number of old people with mental health issues, no sleep, folk wandering about, folk flinging excrement etc etc.

The six and a bit weeks was enough for me as I couldn't get out of bed.  We had an old bird set herself alight - decided she'd have a smoke, in bed, with the oxygen on - set fire to herself.  Another old lady that had extra pain killers in her handbag, but didn't disclose them - ended up doubling up on painkillers until the staff found soluble co-codamol marks on a bedside glass.  A little old lady with dementia, kept trying to get into the blokes ward, but was also violent.  She was in and out 3 times during my stay (admitted then discharged over the 6 weeks) - she kept popping her shoulder out in falls, so by the third time she came in, they had her shoulder back in place pronto, and off back to the care home (she took up alot of staff time due to her wanderings).

One can 'excuse' folk with mental health issues, but there are some right nasty gits in hospital.  My MIL isn't very tolerant, and moans about other 'patients' - yes you are as old, but they have mental issues - you are OK mentally, but your body is knackered, they are the other way round !

Struck up a few good friendships with some of the other 'long termers'.

Highlights of the day, breakfast, the 'tea round' and the 'drug round'.

Unfortunately the good have a tendency to die young; the horrible just go on and on and on. Chap I know who has plenty of cash, goes into hospital for a life-saving procedure, then proceeds to moan about how they all have foreign names.

I'd gladly pay another penny on income tax to fund police at hospitals, some of the girls my wife did her nursing training with are regularly abused, battered. Thankfully Mrs Nobeer has never had to work on a general ward.

I've got a week (or more) in hospital planed at the end of the month following surgery. Hopefully everyone in the heart ward will be chilled and my time will fly by.

Heart Ward - it will be full of moaning old sods !!!

Heart Ward – it will be full of moaning old sods !!!

Just slip half a dozen Pro-plus in their coffee...

Rachel

Worst patients;

Younger people (18-40) believe they are entitled to everything instantly then moan like hell about being in hospital. Demanding they go on "leave" on a Saturday night as the bed is too uncomfortable.

Elderly wealthy people - think it's a hotel and you are their personal nurse. Demanding a cup of tea when someome is peri arrest next to them

The ones who shout loudest get the most. Always been the case. The poorly old girl who isn't eating and can't move gets neglected.

To be fair  a lot of families are worse. Don't adhere to rules, generally do what they want and have less respect than ever. Visiting is 4-8.... "I'll come at 2200, try and stop me" scream in your face. Feed their family member who is nil by mouth because they've looked on google etc etc.

Hateful job. Makes you see people for what they are.

Nurse. 13 years. Looking for a way out.

Heart Ward – it will be full of moaning old sods !!!

it will be full of quiet people in a lot of pain. who sleep loads.

it will be full of quiet people in a lot of pain.

Good news for me then. Oh hang on ...

OP has my sympathies, this is a snippet from my write up of my last time in hospital;

My bed was by a window so I had a nice breeze, there were 6 beds on the ward, all except mine were occupied by blokes in their 70s/80s.  Most seem nice enough, although I nicknamed one Goldilocks as he was forever calling the nurses as he's too hot/cold, the beds too hard/soft, he had too many/not enough pillows etc etc. He spent the whole of the first night calling out like this. I think I managed 2 hrs sleep!

He was a colossal arse, every time he called out, he was unrelenting and ungrateful.