Chris Turner on life at Stafford Hospital after the media storm
26 Mar, 09 | by BMJ Group
So it’s the end of week two since the Healthcare Commission report into Stafford Hospital became public knowledge, and the toll is showing. It shows on the faces of staff who feel battered, it shows on the faces of managers who look beleaguered, and most importantly it shows on the faces of our patients who don’t know just what they are entering into as they are wheeled into the department. The national press have (mostly) returned to their London bases, having left a trail of ever more hyperbolic headlines and a community who feel let down by an organisation that is meant to care for them in their neediest hours. And I am the clinical lead in emergency medicine.
I was appointed in December last year, fresh faced and keen to get stuck into the job. Having been a trainee in the department I was (and continue to be) secure in the knowledge that it was staffed by good people who gave their best at all times (there just were not enough of them). I knew we had some problems, but what department does not I asked myself? I even knew about the HCC report as many of the staff had been interviewed (myself included). Although pretty reading was never on the agenda I think it is fair to say that the tone was a surprise. The ensuing media scrimmage was incredibly stressful, both to the department and to me personally. Fortunately I now appear to have run out of media adrenaline. The local MP and the Secretary of State for Health were met today with not even a flutter of anxiety. Small mercies.
Of course with the headlines and media interest come opportunities, and we undoubtedly need to take those. I have lost count of the number of senior government people I have met with in the last couple of weeks, some clearly wanting to know more, others clearly going through the motions of “being seen”. Oddly some of them who raised my hackles when on TV actually seemed genuine when I met them, quite disarming when you are set to go off like a coiled spring.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, it is time to reassure our patients and build up trust with the community we serve. It sounds like, and is, a political statement, but it has a sound basis. At the moment when I talk to the relatives of the critically ill patients I can see the concern in their eyes. I know that they are worrying about both their relatives and the hospital. In those painful conversations about how far we treat and resus status I have to somehow reassure them that we shall do our very best. I’m still searching for the best way to do this. Clearly there is no one size fits all strategy here. What I do try to convey is that I treat every patient as I would a member of my family. I hope this reassures them at least a little.
In case I might get delusions of grandeur, however, reality does tend to supervene. I tried to call my daughter this morning to wish her all the best in her netball tournament but missed her and got her mum instead. “You may have important things to do today” she said, “But I’ve got a netball match at 6.20 tonight and are you going to be here? It’s important”.
I live in interesting times
Chris Turner is the clinical lead for emergency medicine at Stafford Hospital. He went to Edinburgh University and took the scenic route to consultanthood via both Australia and psychiatry. Children, dogs, and guitars make him happy.
Well said Chris. We work with committed staff who provide quality care at present whilst under significant pressure, which has increased in the past week. We continue to strive to provide excellent emergency care to the patients of Stafford, and I am confident with our colleagues we will continue to do so.
Dr James Crampton
ED consultant, Stafford
Dr James Crampton
March 26th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Chris - I have done some training at Stafford as a guest lecturer and it may surprise the press to hear me say this but whilst I was there the staff who attended the study sessions were enthusiastic friendly, warm and were clearly patient centered in everything they did. The staff at Stafford are exactly what the patients of Stafford and the surrounding districts need…. what the staff need is continued support and not the crushing of the media and HCC. Keep up the good work.
Andy Thurgood
Consultant Nurse
Mr Andy Thurgood
March 27th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Dear Dr.Turner,
I am touched by your honesty. The pressure that has been brought to bear on you and your colleagues has been disproprotionate. I have been very concerned about the way the government and regulatory authorities deal with situations such as the one at your hospital. The lack of clarity as to who is accountable for quality has beset us in the last few years: is is the Trust board, the PCT, the SHA, Monitor, the HCC? In the case of ‘failure’ it is all too easy to come down hard on the organisation in question a rather than making a cool analysis of the role of the parties mentioned above. It is important for each to reflect on the part they played and think how they can work together to remedy the situation instead of ’scapegoating’. The limitations of the Monitor assessment or the HCC rating should be addressed in the case of Mid Staffs.
Like you I feel that the NHS is staffed by good people wanting to do a good job. I am sure that you will have the strength and courage to get through this, and I wish you and your staff well in this difficult time.
Best wishes,
Pauline Ong,
Chair, Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT and Professor of Health Services Research, Keele university.
b.n.ong
March 27th, 2009 at 10:00 am
In total agreement with all the comments raised by Chris and James. Mid Staffs ED is a vastly different place from a year ago, and all the good work of the new consultant team should be recognised and applauded. I have every confidence that the whole ED team will continue to improve the services afforded to the population of Stafford.
Magnus Harrison
Clinical Director Emergency Medicine
University Hospital North Staffordshire
Dr Magnus Harrison
March 27th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Having had the most fortunate opportunity of working under the supervision of some of the current consultants now at Stafford Hospital (whilst they were senior trainees) I sincerely hope that they are given the resources which will allow them to continue to exercise their considerable expertise for the benefit of the people of Stafford.
Dr Syed Ishaq Husain
Core Medical Trainee (SHO)
Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
Dr Syed Ishaq Husain
March 28th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I do agree with the above and experienced the department last February with a minor head injury.I was treated with care and professionalism and very well looked after. Incidentally, I am from out of the area and did not admit to being a GP!
I would say good luck to you all - and continue to keep your managers focussed on how you deliver excellent care, whatever government agenda are foisted on you.
Jo Leahy
GP Telford
Jo Leahy
March 28th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Great work Chris. From where you began last year I suppose the only way is up, but I know that you and James certainly have the skill, expertise, dedication and resolve to turn around the quality and reputation of Stafford ED.
I look forward to hearing more of you experiences in the eye of the storm, and certainly hope you and your colleagues are given the resources and support you will need to provide the high class service I know you aspire to.
Dr Dan Strong
April 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Without you here . . .
A-M Cobban
May 31st, 2009 at 12:03 am
The A and E in Stafford has been a disaster zone for a long time. People who work here know this and have been saying so for years.
To look at the bright side, from this position, things can only get better! That said, many of us will need to see some real evidence before being coninced not just hope and optimism, valubale though that is.
anonymous
June 6th, 2009 at 7:47 pm