Why Does This Keep Happening?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63061077
Do they advertise for low life sadistic bar stewards or what? Time and again this sort of thing hits the news. Fair play to the journos that go under cover.

[douglas9401]

A top-down lack of concern is why it keeps happening.

No photo ops or revenue to be generated looking after folk.

[wolf63]

I was hospitalised in 1997 in a local psychiatric hospital after a Bipolar diagnosis, it was a smallish unit. I must have been lucky because it was well run and people were treated fairly.

But now much of the hospital has closed down and care is provided in another city. The units are larger and there have been some issues and incidents.

I have received ongoing care by my GP and a Consultant psychiatrist. Yet many seriously ill people are not so lucky in their standard of medical care nor support from family and friends.

It all comes down to money

[Spicerack]

It does seem to happen a lot, to old people too.
Often with other staff just stood there or even laughing.
You'd think people would always intervene, wouldn't you.

[ToraToraTora]

wolf:"It all comes down to money " - well money is important but why do they hire these nasties? It isn't "all" money.

[Zacs-Master]

I don't think money has much to do with it. I think institutionalised bullying is rife.

[anneasquith]

It’s anything but rare practice in some units.
If you pay a person with no experience and pay the minimum wage , why do we expect . .?

[FatticusInch]

Wolf63 with her experiences is undoubtedly correct.

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

Do a good job, get a bonus.

[ToraToraTora]

anne: "If you pay a person with no experience and pay the minimum wage , why do we expect . .?" - so everyone on minimum wage is a nasty sadistic bullying bar steward?

[barry1010]

Conversely, pay a much better wage and some will do it for the money and still be dreadful.

[anneasquith]

Ttt, a very stupid reply from you. If you recall the thread is concerning care facilities and staff. ( don’t you remember your own thread ) ?
Don’t put words in my mouth ) .

[ToraToraTora]

anne: You said the reason is because they are on minium wage?

[ToraToraTora]

"If you pay a person with no experience and pay the minimum wage , why do we expect . .?" - well that sort of says that the reason they are like they are is because they are on minimum wage.

[FatticusInch]

It’s almost as if nobody cares about some of the most vulnerable in society.

Ring any bells?

[Ken4155]

The reporter does not indicate whether or not he was vetted prior to being given the job. That said, no amount of vetting would show whether or not a potential employee was a "sadistic bar steward", unless, of course, they had 'previous'.

[naomi24]

Anneasquith, I agree with TTT. What does pay have to do with cruelty?

[wolf63]

I think that there is a link between very low wages and the character of the person, but there are nasty, sadistic people from all walks of life.

Perhaps sadistic people are drawn to working with vulnerable people as paedophiles are drawn to working with children.

I am very lucky that I am aware of my illness - and I lead a life that I have adapted to my needs. But I would not like to live with someone like me.

Society as a whole lacks an understanding of mental illness, especially psychotic episodes.

I don't know the answer to the problem, as with many issues with the NHS the cause of the problem is complex.

[burlyshirley1]

Is this about the programme that was on TV last night ? I couldn't watch it and turned off after a few minutes, the outright cruelty I saw to vulnerable people was heartbreaking and I truly hope the main instigator was sacked and brought to task - nasty, vile b*tch !!!

aa - TTT's answer was not 'stupid', your comment was the stupid one implying that these people are cruel because they are only on a low wage !! I expect kindness and care for vulnerable people and if it isn't forthcoming, I expect them to be sacked !

[pastafreak]

I think it might be more likely that some of these places are simply not willing to pay a salary commensurate with both experience and training. So they hire untrained individuals who have no understanding of the issues the patients have. I didn't see it last night, but the author stated that he was only offered a one day, on line induction. Was he asked about previous experience or training? It would seem not. I'm sure there are plenty of untrained workers who still have the necessary empathy and kindness...but if they find that the institution itself does nothing to encourage that, they are unlikely to stay. Whatever the salary might be.

[ToraToraTora]

bang on shirley, BA!

[rowanwitch]

Sadly some will start out with the best intentions , and as they burn out the ability to care disappears, add leadership from a few twisted individuals and cruelty becomes normalised and entrenched in the culture. Despite all the assurances anyone who attempts to be a whistleblower writes off their chances of finding work in the same sector after they are forced out. Many many years ago I got into trouble for reporting a nurse who slapped an elderly patient with dementia. I was working in that area on an agency shift.. I expect she was just given additional training. This was in the early 1990s,