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The Mater hospital - Oh holy jesus!!

  • 30-03-2012 09:04PM
    #1
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    Im living in dublin on a short term basis and today had to spend 10 hours in the mater (public) hospital today due to unforeseeable circumstances, I have never in my life witnessed such a low standard of hygiene in any hospital or any other public health premises for that matter.

    The stink of piss in the emergency department waiting room is enough to make anyone throw up not to mention the amount of junkies and prisoners from the joy across the road falling around the place either on a come down from some illicit substance or starting arguments with other patients and generally being loud, arrogant and annoying.

    Once finally in the treatment area, I was seen by one of the junior (teenage) doctors who proceeded to examine me without either washing his hands or putting on a pair of sterile gloves. I also noticed a few needle caps (non sharp) just discarded on treatment trolley's after doctors had finished hanging drips for patients. On another clinical table, a doctor had finished treating a patient and there was a relatively small patch of blood left on the bed clothes.. Did he clean it up before the next patient?? You guessed it....

    For the love of Jesus like, if you work in a hospital like, infection control is medicine 101 here folks....

    At the end of my visit I was offered an overnight stay for a minor surgery tomorrow morning but considering it wasn't immediately life threatening I declined having decided to have it done when I go back to my home county in a few weeks and proceeded to leg it out the door, god forbid would I pick up some weird and wonderful disease.....

    I'm seriously considering writing a letter to HIQUA after my experiences there today...

    Venture to the mater if you must but you would not want to be sick going in there or your prob better off staying at home....

    Are other hospitals in dublin like this or is it just the mater? Today was the first time I attended a hospital in dublin so I don't know how it stacks up to the other hospitals??


«1345

Comments

  • #2
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    What does one expect when cutbacks are enforced?

    You never get more with less.

    You get less with less


  • #3
    jetsonx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,330 ✭✭✭jetsonx


    The current third-world state of the health service is a result of years of
    HSE and Fianna Fail mismanagement.

    BTW, most senior HSE "executives" and Fianna Fail politicians get treated
    privately.


  • #4
    antodeco
    Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,722 ✭✭✭✭antodeco


    HIQUA? That's the noise I make when I catch my goolies in my zip.


  • #5
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    jetsonx wrote: »
    The current third-world state of the health service is a result of years of
    HSE and Fianna Fail mismanagement.

    BTW, most senior HSE "executives" and Fianna Fail politicians get treated
    privately.


    Why has it been allowed to continue for so long?


  • #6
    cloud493
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    Hospitals have to do the best they can with what they have. If they don't have the money, they don't have the money. Cutbacks and what not.


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  • #7
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    AngryBollix wrote: »
    What does one expect when cutbacks are enforced?

    You never get more with less.

    You get less with less

    So cutbacks mean that doctors no longer have to adhere by infection control and hygiene standards?? They no longer have to wear gloves and clean up blood after patients and do not have to dispose of needle caps in bins??

    Come on man... think about ur statement!!


  • #8
    Phoenix Park
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭Phoenix Park


    Were you in A&E for OCD?


  • #9
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    cloud493 wrote: »
    Hospitals have to do the best they can with what they have. If they don't have the money, they don't have the money. Cutbacks and what not.


    If the €100 household was used to improve something like this would more people pay it?


  • #10
    cloud493
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    I dunno. Maybe.


  • #11
    Owen_S
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,211 ✭✭✭Owen_S


    Mary Harney/thread.


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  • #12
    Victor_M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,608 ✭✭✭Victor_M


    Was just thinking the same thing myself, washing your hands doesn't cost a penny, nor does disposing of used needles and materials.

    It's just bad discipline/management.

    We can't use cutbacks to justify everything that is wrong in Ireland.


  • #13
    BluesBerry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,221 ✭✭✭BluesBerry


    The mater is a kip I had to spend 4hrs between 11pm - 3am in a&e before christmas and I seen the dregs of society in that short space of time

    One "patient" went around robbing peoples handbags in cubicals the gaurds were called and this animal resisted arrest creating a scene , junkies in the waiting room hanging around the coffee machine having very loud rows with each other , One very aggressive drunk giving the security man hell, A pregnant junkie battering in the door to get in to be seen

    It was the most depressing scariest night of my life the staff there have a hell of a lot to put up with and they have to be admired working in that sh1thole night after night


  • #14
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    subscriber wrote: »
    So cutbacks mean that doctors no longer have to adhere by infection control and hygiene standards?? They no longer have to wear gloves and clean up blood after patients and do not have to dispose of needle caps in bins??

    Come on man... think about ur statement!!

    Is this true of all doctors in the mater?


  • #15
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    Phoenix Park wrote: »
    Were you in A&E for OCD?

    Pretty sure OCD has nothing to do with hygiene standards. If ur comfortable with it that's your decision. I didn't mention in my OP but I too work in the healthcare sector and would never be so careless in my daily activities dealing with patients, although I do see it in my own place of work with some of my colleagues unfortunately. Thankfully not to the level of which I seen in the mater today.


  • #16
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    AngryBollix wrote: »
    Is this true of all doctors in the mater?

    Of course Its not true of all the doctors in there and it would be stupid of me to make such a claim but I am commenting on what I seen overall based on todays visit...


  • #17
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    subscriber wrote: »
    So cutbacks mean that doctors no longer have to adhere by infection control and hygiene standards?? They no longer have to wear gloves and clean up blood after patients and do not have to dispose of needle caps in bins??

    Come on man... think about ur statement!!


    Are you certain he didnt adhere to the practices you speak of?


  • #18
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    subscriber wrote: »
    Of course Its not true of all the doctors in there and it would be stupid of me to make such a claim but I am commenting on what I seen overall based on todays visit...


    Then it may not be a widespread practice.

    Surely the cleaning staff are responsible for the other stuff (the smell and failure to clean up blood etc)


  • #19
    Phoenix Park
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭Phoenix Park


    subscriber wrote: »
    Pretty sure OCD has nothing to do with hygiene standards. If ur comfortable with it that's your decision. I didn't mention in my OP but I too work in the healthcare sector and would never be so careless in my daily activities dealing with patients, although I do see it in my own place of work with some of my colleagues unfortunately. Thankfully not to the level of which I seen in the mater today.

    I am in medicine myself (not in the Mater). Maybe this thread would be best moved from After Hours if its a serious debate (on a serious issue) you are looking for?!


  • #20
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    subscriber wrote: »
    Im living in dublin on a short term basis and today had to spend 10 hours in the mater (public) hospital today due to unforeseeable circumstances, I have never in my life witnessed such a low standard of hygiene in any hospital or any other public health premises for that matter.

    The stink of piss in the emergency department waiting room is enough to make anyone throw up not to mention the amount of junkies and prisoners from the joy across the road falling around the place either on a come down from some illicit substance or starting arguments with other patients and generally being loud, arrogant and annoying.

    Once finally in the treatment area, I was seen by one of the junior (teenage) doctors who proceeded to examine me without either washing his hands or putting on a pair of sterile gloves. I also noticed a few needle caps (non sharp) just discarded on treatment trolley's after doctors had finished hanging drips for patients. On another clinical table, a doctor had finished treating a patient and there was a relatively small patch of blood left on the bed clothes.. Did he clean it up before the next patient?? You guessed it....

    For the love of Jesus like, if you work in a hospital like, infection control is medicine 101 here folks....

    At the end of my visit I was offered an overnight stay for a minor surgery tomorrow morning but considering it wasn't immediately life threatening I declined having decided to have it done when I go back to my home county in a few weeks and proceeded to leg it out the door, god forbid would I pick up some weird and wonderful disease.....

    I'm seriously considering writing a letter to HIQUA after my experiences there today...

    Venture to the mater if you must but you would not want to be sick going in there or your prob better off staying at home....

    Are other hospitals in dublin like this or is it just the mater? Today was the first time I attended a hospital in dublin so I don't know how it stacks up to the other hospitals??


    Why else would you be going to the hospital?


  • #21
    Namlub
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,298 ✭✭✭Namlub


    jetsonx wrote: »
    The current third-world state of the health service is a result of years of
    HSE and Fianna Fail mismanagement.

    BTW, most senior HSE "executives" and Fianna Fail politicians get treated
    privately.

    Hardly...


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  • #22
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    Victor_M wrote: »
    Was just thinking the same thing myself, washing your hands doesn't cost a penny, nor does disposing of used needles and materials.

    It's just bad discipline/management.

    We can't use cutbacks to justify everything that is wrong in Ireland.


    How would you explain it? Particularly the removal of needles and waste materials for wards and A&E etc.

    Is this a job or doctors and nurses? The hand washing aspect is their responsility alone but the rest I'm not so sure about


  • #23
    Paulzx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,150 ✭✭✭Paulzx


    AngryBollix wrote: »
    Why else would you be going to the hospital?

    If you spent any amount of time around A and E's in Dublin you would come to the completely illogical conclusion that i have come to.............hospital is no place for a sick person!!!!


  • #24
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    AngryBollix wrote: »
    Then it may not be a widespread practice.

    Surely the cleaning staff are responsible for the other stuff (the smell and failure to clean up blood etc)

    Take it from me angry boilix, as mentioned, I also work in the healthcare sector, it is definitely the responsibility of the clinical practitioner whether he or she is a doctor, nurse, physio, paramedic, speech and language therapist or any other health care professional to clean up after clinical procedures and assessments with every patient , and there is no excuse.

    It is the cleaners job to empty bins, mop floors and clean canteen areas, not to dispose of clinical waste post procedures.


  • #25
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    subscriber wrote: »
    So cutbacks mean that doctors no longer have to adhere by infection control and hygiene standards?? They no longer have to wear gloves and clean up blood after patients and do not have to dispose of needle caps in bins??

    Come on man... think about ur statement!!
    What's wrong with needle caps? We're talking about what protects the needle before use yes? So what's so unhygienic about leaving a piece of plastic sitting on a bed?

    Also, I don't think a doctor is required to wear gloves for an examination, of course it would depend on the what the examination entails.


  • #26
    DeVore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭DeVore


    Maybe not third world, but speaking as someone who's job it was to visit clinics and hospitals in over a dozen countries (as an IT/Sales consultant).... Ireland is at best a second world in terms of medical care and standards.


  • #27
    hondasam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,418 ✭✭✭✭hondasam


    cloud493 wrote: »
    Hospitals have to do the best they can with what they have. If they don't have the money, they don't have the money. Cutbacks and what not.
    AngryBollix wrote: »
    If the €100 household was used to improve something like this would more people pay it?

    It's not our fault a doctor who should know better cannot be arsed to wash his hands. This has noting to do with cutbacks and everything to do with hygiene.
    No this would not encourage me to pay the household charge.


  • #28
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    subscriber wrote: »
    Take it from me angry boilix, as mentioned, I also work in the healthcare sector, it is definitely the responsibility of the clinical practitioner whether he or she is a doctor, nurse, physio, paramedic, speech and language therapist or any other health care professional to clean up after clinical procedures and assessments with every patient , and there is no excuse.

    It is the cleaners job to empty bins, mop floors and clean canteen areas, not to dispose of clinical waste post procedures.


    Are the doctors responsible for the stench of piss?

    One can only presume that if it was in the emergency room a drunk or junkie dropped their jocks and pissed on the floor. Presumably this is beyond the doctors remit


  • #29
    beco2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭beco2010


    subscriber wrote: »
    today had to spend 10 hours in the mater (public) hospital
    count yourself lucky in many other A&E's around you could be waiting up to 19 hours


  • #30
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    Paulzx wrote: »
    If you spent any amount of time around A and E's in Dublin you would come to the completely illogical conclusion that i have come to.............hospital is no place for a sick person!!!!

    So quiet obviously that comment was not meant to be taken literally and was meant to be highlight the fact that you may stand a better chance of feeling better at home as opposed to going into that that dump that is crawing with infections and I really can't believe you decided to pick that out of my original post and embarrass yourself by not understanding when a joke is due...


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  • #31
    AngryBollix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,536 ✭✭✭AngryBollix


    subscriber wrote: »
    So quiet obviously that comment was not meant to be taken literally and was meant to be highlight the fact that you may stand a better chance of feeling better at home as opposed to going into that that dump that is crawing with infections and I really can't believe you decided to pick that out of my original post and embarrass yourself by not understanding when a joke is due...

    Amateur mistake...


    What infections? Quite clearly it wasnt a joke given your explanation


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