howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
yes i know that this subject has been raised here on another thread but as it has been on both sides local news tonight i thought it needed its own.
pictures are from the qeqm in margate where they have decided to dump the tabards.
both professionals were in favour of the tabards citing the fact that 600 cases of the wrong drugs had been issued in the past year in east kent.
the patient pictured here (joan) was in broad agreement.
Why can't they simply talk to people and tell them what they are doing? I should add that I have dealt with numerous meds errors in the past few months that were nothing to do with patients distracting nurses and all to do with sloppy practice. This is demonstrable in the cases I have managed.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
I spent a lot of time in Hospital earlier in the year, QEQM, and I can understand the need for the tabbard, the staff were so busy that as soon as one appears patients and in many cases visitors were trying to get their attention. The drug round is very important and the nurse doing it does not need any distraction at all.
Audere est facere.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I do not understand why the drugs are not sorted in peace and quiet away from the bedside, to simple I guess.
They are keeping the red but doing away with the wording, I did not like the 'do not disturb' part of the wording, a simple 'please' in front might have been less confrontational.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please is not a word I heard much during my experiences with hospital recently!! Neither was sorry..............
Martin - I do wonder why the nurses can't simply manage themselves better, perhaps actually talk to people and explain what is happening, arrange for another (less qualified) nurse to fend people off pro tem, or even to close the ward for the half hour it takes. There should be a better way than body armour.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
fair points raised above, here are the detractors, not entirely surprising.
mistakes have gone down by 75 per cent since the tabards have been worn.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
martin post 3 hits the nail on the head, it is visitors that casually interrupt the nurses when they are clearly busy doing something important.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
The wording was not good, but trying to explain to someone they are busy and cannot deal with them is distracting to the nurse and can make the patient feel upset, because whatever they ask is important to them.
Audere est facere.
I have suggested a rear guard! Or notices, or, radical I know, someone to explain to visitors IN PERSON FACE TO FACE from the off about meds rounds before they happen. Actually talk to them............
PS - mistakes going down since tabards are worn may be more the result of nurses being more aware that they are being scrutinised and thereefore being more careful. It is important to look at all factors.
Mistakes have gone down by 75% , that may be the case , The important information that needs adding to that statement is
, What type of mistakes , drug errors are many and varied , it avsolutely does not mean that the wrong medication is given to the wrong person .
What where the ammount and type of errors before the trial ,
what where the ammount and type of errors during the trial ,
where the ammount of staff avaliable for the rounds the same ,
what was the sickness levels on the 2 wards .
What level of agency staff where involved in the rounds/ delivering care before and during the trial .
What ammount of shifts before and during the trial ran with reduced staff numbers and for what reasons.
What was the complexity of the drug regiemes before and during the trial .
How long where the periods being compared .
What is the current level of errors on the 2 wards used for the trial and what is the current impact on errors in the Hospital ,
then and only then can a true comparison of effictivness be made . No one can hide a half truth behind half explained statistics with more efficacy than an NHS spokesperson
Cheers Bern , amazingly , like you I have found the most effective way of dealing with people is by talking to them not issuing "go away " signs
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
what can i say sarah other than yes or no?
i get the feeling i should have not have broached the subject.
Not at all Howard , mind you if Bern invites you round for a veggie curry , it might be wise to decline

Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
I Think its fair to say we have all had varying types of service whikst in the hospitals.
whilst BERN clearly has not had the service she should have got
i can only go by my own experiences of dedicated(but overworked) staff within all the hospitals.
There were issues of the private caterers cutting corners and not providing even the basic service, but thats another story which i'v given a little insight into

ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
This is about tabards, not levels of service - although they might be indicators of each other. I would also suggest that it is possible to appear over worked while achieving little.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
BERN;
I don't disagree with your view
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Bern. So true. The walking quickly while holding paper or talking brightly type of under achieving
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
an old trick that can be seen at any large hospital or public building.
popular in the days of national service, be seen clutching a file and looking as if you are going somewhere and you won't be asked to do a job of work.
It appears that the wording is to be changed. The do not disturb is to be removed so just the Drug Round In Process is left.
I would have thought that the drug trolley and pot of pills may have been a major clue to thst. So we are back to my ground breaking suggestion that the nurses actually spoke to the person maybe to say as soon as they had finished they would get someone to.deal with them. Worked for me for 30 years