So now i know!!

[topogigo]

I described how my daughter in law was fast tracked through the maternity ward a couple of weeks ago.
Since then i realised that one of the chaps from my pub is a consultant on that ward, i asked him about her short stay, he said " well you wouldn't want to be in there any longer, some are not so lucky" i am sure we can see what all that means. Sad fact i think.
By the way my little princess gets lovlier each day!!

[warpig3]

Thats an interesting point topogigo. I was listening to Jeremy Vine yesterday and one of the discussions was about MRSA and CDiff and it got me thinking, I am due at the end of Feb and the thought of going in to hospital to give birth and coming out with some virus or other is quite alarming, so taking that into consideration perhaps getting patients out asap is not such a bad thing (as long as they are fit and able to return home).

[jno]

no way you can have a home birth, warpig? (You could be back working in the fields by the next day.)

[sarnieken]

went for wife's first scan yesterday at Pinderfields (wakefield) and although I will state that the place looks very clean and this comment is in no way against the hospital. It is having millions spent on rebuilding and the staff were amazing.
What worried me was the amount of notices and warnings about washing hands and cleaning up.
That and the horror stories about MRSA and C-Diff.
my wife is not looking forward to giving birth and is unable to give birth at home due to bood pressure problems so we are relying on a hospital delivery.

Glad to hear that she was fast tracked through. I have a sister in law working in a hospital but it is nearly 200 miles away. D'oh.

[warpig3]

LOL jno, it is something that I am now tentatively considering but as it is my first I am a little scared (of everything). Maybe I should go out into the woods and just squat! I believe it may smart a bit but should be ok after a couple of asprins!

[beryllium]

Is it possible the consultant was saying that some women are not so lucky to have a quick birth? that some end up with emergency C sections? and other things that can go wrong... they are the ones that have to stay.

Dearest warpig :)
Can you get the figures for the hospital you are due at for their records on C Diff and MRSA? on the maternity ward?

B.

[warpig3]

Berylium that is an excellent idea and I will check it out. It was so disheartening yesterday to hear waht was not being done in the hospitals for example beds not being washed down when one patient leaves, the same cleaning equiptment being used in different areas therefore transfering germs etc. Its all very scary and so avoidable.

[beryllium]

Hi Warpig :)

Health Protection Agency may be able to help or be a start for the right direction.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/default.htm

A girlfriend of mine had her first bubby at home btw. All went well.

She's a bit of a hippy lol and does accupuncture ;) xxx

[annie0000]

I had both my children by C-section in a hospital that was absolutely filthy and falling to pieces - it was due to be replaced. With my first, I had a broken bed, filthy carpet tiles and although I had been in the hospital since Sunday night and my son wasn't born until Wednesday, I did not have the opportunity to even wash my hands until late Thursday when my husband watched the baby while I hobbled off for a shower. They had also left an open tube from the epidural in my spine. The second was not so bad - still the same dirty broken down ward - no curtains on the window - broken bulb in the lamp - but at least I had a bed bath after returning from surgery. Despite all of this, miraculously i came out with no infections whatsoever, but I try to avoid hospitals at all costs.

[warpig3]

Thanks B, had a look at the link, think I will ask a question under FOI. I would like to think of myself as slightly hippyish and free thinking but deep down I am a big sacredy cat!

Annie thats terrible, what hosp was that, Stirling? I am due to go to St Johns in livingston, it looks fine but its appears its the things that you cant see that could be the problem.

When I was very young I spent a lot of time in hosp and can remember the cleaners were assigned to each ward, they were responsible of the ward cleaning and if things were not up to scratch then the matron or ward sister was not long in telling them. Also the nurses had to do the cleaning too, although I appreciate that these days they barely have time to nurse let alone clean. As I say its all very depressing and a sad indictment of todays health service and agree with Annies point of avoiding hospitals.

[Jillius]

I had major surgery a few years ago and although the staff were lovely, the hospital was filthy. The bathroom was covered in dried blood and god knows what else. None of the staff seemed to wash their hands. The woman in the bed opposite had her colostomy bag changed then the nurse came straight over to my bed to look at my wound. I pretended to be asleep so she walked away. It was only on my last night that a nurse I hadn't seen before came round rubbing antibacterial gel into her hands. The other nurses were asking what the smell was (the handwash!!). If they had bothered to use it they would have known !!

[Jillius]

Must also say this cos it's funny............
An old man in our village is needing a hip operation but he daren't go into hospital in case he gets the HSBC superbug !! Bless him

[shanx]

reading in the paper today they are promoting 2,500 nurses as matrons to take control of the cleaning , this should all be happening by may.

[redcrx]

Dont feel pressured into coming home with baby if you dont feel ready. But if you are staying, take some precautions.
keep a small bottle of the antiseptic gel in your birthing bag.
Make sure anyone who comes near the baby uses the pump of gel by your bed. Thats doctors, midwives AND guests.
Use the disposable bottles that are sealed whilst in the hospital unless of course you are breast feeding as the kitchens and streilisers may not be clean.

Im glad the baby and you DIL are doing so well topo

[warpig3]

LOL jillius @ HSBC superbug!

Thats the thing redcrx, I really feel for people who have to go to hospital, not only do they have the worry of what surgery they might be having but also the possibility of catching something completely unrelated to their illness and having to take precautions to try and prevent it.

[redcrx]

yes its a shame warpig, but visitors do bring a lot of the bugs in and forget to use the pumps by the ward entrances.

So if the patient can do even the smallest thing it may help improve things.

[annie0000]

Hi Warpig - it was the old Simpsons in Edinburgh, I have heard that the new one is not much better! My friend had her baby in St Johns and said that the staff there were lovely - that was 6 years ago though!

[warpig3]

Hi Annie, well its looks ok from what I have seen so fingers crossed and antiseptic gel, wipes, everything at the ready!

[topogigo]

I am quite sure that my friend in the pub was referring to mrsa, his friend who i think is associated with him professionally, was agreeing and shaking his head at the time.
I know an old chap who went in for a hernia op and came out minus his testicles due to mrsa.
It is strange how these bugs have beaten the system since the Thatcher years privatised the cleaning services in hospitals, shame Maggie has never had to rough it on the NHS.