Hospitals in August

[HideiLu]

Don't want to scare any August Mums to Be - just wanted to see if anyone knew if this was true.

My Mum was talking to a friend who works in the hospital (She hadn't said anything about the palava I had been through at my hospital the past week) and her friend was saying, she feels sorry for people in hospital in August as that's when they do a lot of transfers and have new staff coming in, which usually get stretched over all departments while they re configure things and for them to get to grips in all areas?

As a result, they attempt to keep patients to an absolute minimum, and a lot of people get turned away to cope with reall emergencies.

From all the threads I've seen lately, and my own experiences, it does seem that way?

 

[bunnymom1980]

I presume you are talking hospitals in general not just maternity?

I'm a nurse in cardiac intensive care and I wouldn't say any time of year is good or bad. Generally the hospitals in this area are always full to bursting anyway and finding beds is always a juggling act for bed managers. New staff come and go all the time, I know junior doctors rotate in august and some nursing and midwifery courses end in august so there's an influx of newly qualified staff. Although not many nurses and midwives are getting jobs straight away at the minute because of recruitment freezes.

 

[dannii87]

I think that sounds feesable! There does seem to be some sort of crisis thing in the NHS this month...

In August they do a lot of transfers and have new staff coming in, which usually get stretched over all departments while they re configure things and for them to get to grips in all areas

In a way, it's quite nice to know that the NHS on a whole aren't failing (as that's how it seems sometimes with posts and stuff) and it's actually down to transfers etc. Gives me a bit of faith in a way!!

Either way, as long as they have a MW and an anaethetist on hand when I arrive at the hospital - I'll be happy!! xx

 

[claire2711]

Well I was in hosp for a few days right at the start of Aug, but I didnt really notice any over-stretching of staff.......all the midwives etc were verrrrry nice & helpful for me and LO!! 8)

When I decided to have the epidural, aneasthatist (sp) seemed to take friggin ages but thats cos my diamorphine had worn off so every min felt like an hour!!!

overall, the hosp seemed very well equipped and im sure its the same everywhere, you'll be fine and so will LO! x

 

[JoAnn&Aimee]

Not sure if this is related but after I had Aimee I was sent to a different ward as the ward I was suppose to be going to was too understaffed that night to handle a new arrival.

 

[Lindsay]

Not technically realted but I was talking to an ex midwife and she said that August / September are very busy months in maternity department for babies being born as they have been conceived at Christmas time!! Apparently especially in the north east, midwives hate August and September months!!!!

Xxx

 

[clairedoran]

I think it may be true, as my consultant was leaving the day I went for my pre-op last week.
He said it was 'that time of year'. He was taking up a post in Birmingham. He had bottles of
wine on his desk, and I commented that he had done well on presents. He said they weren't for
him, but for 2 others that were leaving! He said he had already been replaced though?!

xx

 

[Mildly]

We had our Hospital Tour today and CDS and the maternity ward were very quiet! I think only one labour room was being used (so luckily we got to see the pool room) and there was no midwives rushing around looking as though they were mid-birth. In the maternity ward two of the bays were for after birth and there was only one family in one of them. The other bays were for antenatal use and I couldn't see in either so I reckon they might have been in use.

I'm really hoping it is like that when I have to go in!

 

[Fen]

August is a particularly difficult month being the month that all Junior Doctors rotate their posts so, in the first week,(now over, thank goodness), you will come across doctors in every specialty who have done nothing at all in that specialty since lectures at Medical School. Added to that they are in an unfamiliar Hospital and know nothing about where everything is and who does what and where. To reassure everyone there will be Registrars who, although they might be unfamiliar with the Hospital are experienced in the Specialty and, of course, Consultants available. August, being school holidays, is peak time for taking leave for those staff, such as nurses and MW's who are permanent thus making matters worse all round. As we get further into August doctors will be getting to speed which should help waiting a bit and towards the end of August, as it nears the end of school holidays, staff will be coming back which will improve matters further. My doctor daughter, now on Maternity leave awaiting a baby this month, was in a similar situation last year in London where she ended up covering so many absences she had clocked up over 70 hours of work one week. No overtime for doctors, either, she ended up being paid less per hour than the Porters. Just a little plea if doctors look tired and a little bewildered in early August!

 

[HideiLu]

she had clocked up over 70 hours of work one week. No overtime for doctors, either, she ended up being paid less per hour than the Porters. Just a little plea if doctors look tired and a little bewildered in early August!

Geesh I really feel for her and the other staff! It's obviously not their fault but they have to deal with the rough end of it and you can tell most of them so badly want to help but are so stretched and worn down. Hope your daughter is getting some much needed rest at the moment!