NHS staff moved sick OAP in hospital bed into a cramped OFFICE as she wept

[Northerner]

A great-grandmother broke down and cried after NHS staff moved her hospital bed into a cramped office.

Arlene Meekins, 77, was fighting a chest infection when she was dumped in the tiny room for about four hours.

Staff typed at computers and answered calls about other patients, while workers made tea and coffee in the room.

Daughter-in-law Shelley Meekins, 41, said: “Poor Arlene was in a bed next to a load of cupboards. She broke down and cried because there was just no dignity for her.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/nhs-staff-moved-sick-oap-5154936

 

[Redkite]

It also says in the article that before she was put in the office room, she was on a maternity ward - this is a 77 year old woman with a chest infection! Hardly appropriate either for her or for the newborns

 

[Copepod]

Clearly not appropriate for a 77 year old woman with a chest infection to be on a maternity ward, but actually being in a side room, was better for infection control reasons. Better than being left on a corridor. While not private, with staff coming in and out, better than being left totally isolated.

Sad that staff don't have a rest room, nor long enough breaks to get off ward for tea / coffee.

NHS staff often have to make hard decisions to make the best of limited resources.