How much have things deteriorated? When a hospital bed becomes vacant, is it still stripped by 2 nurses, all surfaces wiped with some antibacterial cleaner then remade with fresh sheets? Are floors and surfaces still regularly dusted / vacuumed / mopped or wiped as need be - including the tops of the tracks used for the privacy curtains? I seem to remember these very basic things being done prior to 1980 and if they weren't done look out for matron she would be after them. Nursing staff spoke to you nicely and the surgeon or doctor on his rounds would speak to you as well. Whilst I am being treated as someone with a mind of my own I am happy to consider recommendations, advice and act accordingly. Whilst I am treated as a Martian that has no understanding of English and no comprehension of life on earth never mind how my own body works they find me less than co-operative.

nothing changes except for the worse. We have to be aware. When I trained as a nurse we had real training-on the job,which was hard.But if it was your vocation the rewards were great . We hear of the bad old days but rigorous training made nurses what they were.It is only in retrospect one appreciates what we had in spite of the days whenwe were told off by the all powerful sister--sometimes made to cry for some simple harmless fault. I know there were bad nurses even then. I could also tell a horror story of the time, when I did 3 months at the sunshine home for blind babies in Leaming ton.
I cant see how nurses today can empathise with patients when 2 thirds of their training is university.
Last year I went to Birmingham Orthopaedic hospital for a new ankle joint.My consultant asked if I minded a couple of student doctors--3nd year--looking on, in outpatients. He explained in detail what he'd done to them and myself .
The just looked- and never spoke, never asked questions.When he said they may go that was the only time they looked animated and couldn't wait to get out of the door.
I did comment and he said one of the things they ought to teach is politenss and most important- bedside manner.

History just seems to repeat itself- nothing seems to change for the better. These schemes are all the same in the end if only with diffrent names.

I once worked at a secure mental hospital. (I was putting in electronic control systems.) The inmates there were routinely given chemical cosh's, had teeth removed and were even beaten. Sadly, there were children in this hospital, and the nursing staff hadn't got much time for them. I suppose the staff become hardened over the years, but as a young 21 year old, it shocked me enough to remember it to today.

I also spent a large slice of my life loosely attached to training/education. Frankly, most schemes are poor value for the trainee, they're usually used as cheap labour, often doing little/nothing to add to their knowledge.

I worked with one very well known Institution, they actually set up a small unit to relieve the EU of training money. What they gave the trainees in return had largely been lifted straight off the internet. Lifted, I might add, by trainees of their own, on work experience to learn how to build training courses. I also hold NVQ assessor qualifications, I could tell you some real horror stories there, but believe me, plenty of people are making lots of money out of it. Sadly, the trainees are still getting a raw deal.

All I can say is poor student and what a shambles for his training. I am sure the Private sector in this case paid a 'healthy' fee for a 3 month supply of press ganged students all on bursaries. How was his training and mentoring monitored then? Don't answer that, I can guess. You see , this is what happens to cheapening a profession and service. I am not saying for one minute this student wasn't a hard working, caring and bright individual but what a waste in opportunity to park him in a care home. He needs to be in the middle of the heart of a hospital to learn and be assessed by the whole range of experts that work with in it and to experience the whole range of events that do happen in it. Care homes have limitations on experts and the types of experiences available in one place. They need qualified caring leading professional nurses to lead unqualified caring teams as do all clinical settings. I am sure he enhanced the patient experience and learnt by what he saw and did but I just can't help thinking he was robbed of 3 months worth of something else.

No , Gladys he had no choice he was on placement from Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry --our Palace of woes.

Cathidaw- that's the 'nub' of it. Its cheap labour proferring cheaply ' trained ' nurses. I wonder if that student was on a placement for 3 months as part of his training or whether he'd chosen to do it to supplement his bursary? It would be interesting to know.

You are so right Gladys. When I was at the 'home' there was a young male trainee nurse who was there for 3 months. He couldn't wait to finish although iwill say he did his best, but he didn't seem to get much 'training'. just the day to day slog. He said it was '.bewildering'
It was a private home so they probably got him on the cheap.

Medication to zonk people out- what a merciful release for some from many a hell hole that is if they get the medication right in the first place! One such expose (Acute accent over the 'e') was on the TV- I think it was chanel 4's 'Despatches'. It showed the appalling treatment dealt out by 'carers/nurses' to elderly and mentally ill people. The nurse manager and her husband have since been struck off and inprisoned. I think there is another similar programme about to show,I saw the trailer for it recently. Sadly, it demonstrates that if one place is shown up followed by another one, this is likely to be just the tip of the iceburg.

Well done Cathidaw for trying to right the wrong but at least you did give a few some positive stimulation with caring support whilst you were at that place.

Bring back the professional caring vocational nurse and the education that built her/his foundation. It all seems so disconnected from the patient now. I notice frighteninlg more and more that Nurses jobs advertise for 'experience ' with this or that like piece work is done by carpenters and electricians, plumbers etc. In my day you had experience and learning to cover it all and from that as a trained nurse you could manage it all. If you didn't pass the learning phase of that experience then you couldn't progress through training. It was good basic training in an all round rounded way. Then after that, you would specialise after a few years capitalising on that basic foundation. This all seems to have gone out of the window. Anyone can call them selves a Nurse but not every one is a Nurse in the pure true meaning of what is a Professionally Trained Nurse; That is the crux of the matter. Off soap box.

The whole system is rubbish.We always hear of places where people say "my mums in /// and she loves it.They are so kind"etc etc
Also howmany elderly persons if asked would say otherwise if they live there.)
I don't believe it. I know they work hard in these places and there may be exceptions, but it's a JOB to most carers or whatever they call themselves.And peanuts are paid so what do you get.
My sister an ex nurse,worked in a few of thes places and trying to be compassionate was not in the job description. She was sacked for caring too much (twice) for bringing to notice some error in the humane treatment of some of the people.
I taught art at an altzimers home for 3 months, very difficult they are, I know but people must be treated humanly and allow them dignity,and they werent. Like naughty children instead, with punishments like taking them to their rooms if they objected to something minor. As for medication, in the middle of a class they'd come around with tablets sometimes as many as 6 on a little dish and force them to take them- standing there 'til they'd taken them with a glass of water--and then look into their mouths.
I saw people come in-and within a months they wre zombies. No pot plants about there.
The only time it was good was when important visitors came to look around.Visitors who were looking for a home for a relative.The staff were all sickeningly compassionate then.

I left, firstly because I couldn't stand what I saw every week and secondly, because I questioned certain things and she got suspicious. When I said I'd once upon a time been a nurse--that was it. She phoned that same night to say the classes were disrupting the patients so I' have to go. They loved it and always waved me off saying come again.Even if they didn't do much art--one lady ate the wax crayons and another painted his arms,a few times and it was fun.
I did report them but it was investigated and 'nothing untoward was found'
We need something like the Dutch village system where these poor souls can meet and not be shut away like in the madhouses of Victorian times.
Off my bandwagon now ! ! !

Don't they zonk you out so you are tame and no bother to them? I suspect you might be bright enough to bury your zonking medication in a pot plant or some other clever place just to confuse the staff who will be so busy they won't notice that you disabled the remote,

I share this fear. One would hope care improves before too long but there in lies another thread!!!

I have nightmares about being in an old folks home and being plunked in front of a blaring telly and being powerless to switch it off!

Cathidaw, I did this when mine were young except until they were 7-10'ish we didn't have a TV. When we did I switched it on for specifics, then it went off. Neither child now 22 and about to be 25 are TV addicts. They'd rather be out climbing mountains, playing rugby etc. Good on you- what you are doing now is operating G'parental control. Sadly- I don't think enough parents do this or even more to the point realise they should be doing so.

Ilike the tv. So there I've said it. I choose what I like to watch othwise it's off.
When my family werebabies we had 15minutes per day of childrens daytime tv. I lived out in the sticks,buses from 8 am and every 71 minutes later.'til 8pm. my husband out all dayand if the children were having a bad day that 15 minutes was precious to them and me. We'd sit cuddled up to watch. I occupied them at other times and sometimes it was so tiring especially in a house with not many mod cons. I dont regret those times,we did so many things and none went to nursery and all 3 could read when they started school..Now my grandchildren come and they sit watching their stuff --with a timer--then it goes off and we do things as I am recharged by then.
Iwatch only what I like and there's not much of that--it's75% drivel.
I time the children too if they want to use my computer-half an hour a day -unless it's for homework.
If they complain they miss a day , so they say nothing-just pull a face.
I also enjoy 2 of the soaps.

Rebbonk- same here. I have no idea about any of the soaps and don't want to either. People actually plan their lives around what's on and what's happening in this and that soap as if it is real life. I think its just sad.