I am speechless and genuinely sadden when I read some of the stories that are being presented as feedback from you lovely people. There are so many heartbreaking examples pouring onto our petition page, I am truly speechless. We knew there was a huge systematic problem with the NHS and how complaints were being handled and your comments are beginning to confirm how huge the problem is and why we need the change as a matter of urgency!
Collectively and unbelievably we now have over 3,000 supporters and we cannot begin to thank you enough. We need to keep sharing our petitions over and over again to friends, family, colleagues, neighbours and anyone you can think of. Again are the links to share:
Here are just a handful of the comments we have received in just the last few days so God knows how many other examples there are of people suffering in silence:
Rachel H - "I am so sorry to hear of your sad loss of Balram and I really hope you are able to achieve what you hope to with this petition. I have experienced huge trauma in the hands of certain "medical staff" and although there are some absolutely fantastic healthcare staff when you raise concerns or make complaints the PALS service is in no way fit for purpose and one of the two that I have had dealings with work Mon-Fri 9-5pm but you call them and just get an answerphone that still says due to government guidelines staff are working remotely and someone will aim to return your call within 3 working days! which is of no use when things are going wrong at that time and no one is listening or interested. When I did make a complaint after a 5 and a half month admission to one trust in Jan 21 that included things that took place during transfers to a different trusts hospital I was told that they would lead the complaint investigation and communicate and update the other trust, which they never did and as the 2nd trust hadn't logged my complaint due to human error they didn't investigate it until I went back to them and asked why I had not had a response. My complaint has now been with the PHSO for over a year and it is still ongoing and I complained because I didn't want anyone else to be treated in the way I was and I am sadly under no illusion that nothing is going to have changed for patients in a similar position as me. Thank you for putting such a tragic loss to hopefully inform good change. Best wishes Rachel."
Jenny Clough - "Our child was born with a brain injury due to medical negligence, leading to multiple complex needs including 40-60 seizures a day, our 22 month old little girl shouldn’t have this life and neither should we. All because the staff where she was born failed to follow procedures"
Llinos O - "Unfortunately I know from experience what can happen. “Lessons will be learned…..” Well, this isn’t good enough! ‘Mistakes/Negligence will continue to happen on a daily basis unless there are serious consequences. My sincere condolences to the family and I wish them all the best with this petition."
Alison M - "My son died at 7 days old but because a suitable number of doctors would of made the same mistake there was nothing i could do"
Ben C - "I also have a son who will be in hospital long term and it’s something I feel strongly about."
Rachael A-J - Deny. "Conceal. Deflect. These are the words used by Dr Bill Kirkup - author of reports into major maternity scandals - to describe the behaviour of NHS bosses. I have experienced it myself in NHS Continuing Healthcare. It seems that the NHS complaints system is designed to protect the organisation rather than right wrongs, especially as they are the ones 'marking their own homework'."
Lorraine F - "I’ve seen first hand unfortunately, cruel nursing staff & the power they have, it is frightening & frustrating as we’ve had no voice, they know there are literally no consequences that affect them, but that do to their patients & families!"
Kathleen F - "I'm signing because I feel patients should be entitled to a second opinion."
Raj Raichura - "This maltreatment of a helpless, dependent person must be brought to the attention of the authorities."
A G - "The NHS don't care for their patients anymore, we're all just a number or a statistic. The more they're held accountable the better."
Susan O - I have lost two sons due to the negligence and arrogance of NHS staff. PALS have been useless as have the pathologist and coroner who could only go on what the Staff Nurse has said no Doctor will put their name to the accidental murder of my son in April and the misdiagnosis of my eldest boy in 2021. We were in the ICU for 100 days and watched as the unit turned into what can only be described as a Euthanasia ward as we watched as families were more or less forced to sign DNR's. I am disgusted with them. My sons death in April was down to negligence.
I feel your pain. We know the grief you are suffering. RIP Balram
Felicity D - "The NHS is in severe trouble!"
John M - "There isn’t much of anything good to say about the NHS. I for one am still waiting after over two months for my X-ray result."
Pauline R - "I have had bad experiences regarding NHS. RIP Balram."
Ray B - "In such circumstances, the investigating body should always be independent."
Lesley B - "My father passed away in March due to NHS , there is going to be an inquest in December but I'm not holding my breath that anyone will be held accountable."
Hena C - "This is heartbreaking and something needs to change"
Elaine C - "To0 many deaths and waste of equipment, too many managers and divisions taking high pay"
Rebecca N - "I have witnessed extremely bad practice with both my father and my daughter and it gets you nowhere if you complain with the systems in place at the moment ."
Sam M - "Experienced this with my mum for the past year. Still fighting the NHS to this day and never had an apology from them."
Richard W - "The Parlaimentry Health Ombudsman is a disgrace. They will ignore the proof sent to them and state you have made statements that you haven't. They toe the Government line and back the Hospitals up to the hilt. Never speak to them on the phone but conduct all business by email. You will get no justice from them so don't waste your time. They need disbanding and a proper independent accountable body set up to replace them."
Seddy A - "Far too many cases of abuse, neglect, lack of care, accountability needed"
Nigel P - "long overdue..."
Hannah M "This is happening day in and day out and especially for those with disabilities and communication difficulties are being fatally neglected and over looked"
R F - "Have had awful experiences too - both as a patients daughter and an NHS nurse - full accountability and transparency is urgently needed, it’s practically impossible to get any kind of scrutiny upon management actions and decisions"
Ronald G - "I would like to see Justice for the thousands that have died in hospital through what have been put down as procedure errors at places like Stafford, Nottingham etc., with no one held responsible?"
Tracy L - "It is imperative that all complaints are investigated in an independent way for clearer answers and avoid cover ups occurring."
James M - "In such circumstances, the investigating body should always be independent. There are way too many overpaid incompetent managers in the NHS"
Ian B - "My wife died from cancer 3 years previous the so called doctors did just enough to keep themselves out of trouble. Don't believe a word they say like we don't do that, that was a trial it's ended now Then make a complaint to the ombudsman and the n. h. s. Close ranks and its never there fault. Highest death rates from cancer in the Western world that's the NHS"
Robbie J - "The whole system needs shaking up. CQC ratings aren't worth the paper they're written on."
Patricia H - "I absolutely agree the NHS has become a sinister and belligerent organisation who think they are untouchable, I have had my own dreadful experience at their hands."
BoB B - "Most of the management that are in a position to investigate mistakes in the health service, are already being paid so much money that their overriding priority is to minimise any backlash that could affect their pay-cheque. The Police have a separate Unit that can investigate any criminality or unprofessionalism in the Constabulary. Even this system has it's flaws, but at least it's a start! The health service, both National Health and Private Care needs something similar."
Lea H - "This happens far too regularly and the complaints system is beyond useless . Time consuming and pointless. The NHS is meant to save life yet often destroys it . Without any accountability."
Yasmeen A "My husband concerns were not met like this story & he too passed away"
Sheila H - "This is heartbreaking stuff need to listen to families, have they learnt nothing from the death of Oliver McGowan and his mothers campaign."
Sue B - "The NHS does need to be transparent. They are not all ‘angels’ as they were stupidly and sentimentally called during the pandemic. Yes, the job they did became very very arduous and I’m sure the majority of them went above and beyond, but, the unlucky patients that fell victim to covid were not allowed visitors so we have absolutely no knowledge of how every patient was treated. As we know in normal times, there are many incidents of complaints of neglect and bad treatment so the individuals responsible for bad treatment of patients must have got away with it with no witnesses to their actions."
Loraine T - "Because I care"
Sally R - "It is important that patients are protected."
John R - "Freedom of speech is my right"
Neil M - "Fully agree Sheila, time and time again we hear that 'we will learn from what we did not get right and ensure this does not happen to others and their families' but as you say nothing changes!"
Christina G - "I was abused and raped in a hospital in Cornwall in March 2019. My records were changed and fabricated to hide what staff did to me…there was a whilstleblower who was paid off and promoted to ensure his silence.Despite several official complaints to both the NHS and police, it has been repeatedly covered up.They should be held accountable…. This country needs a complete overhaul of power."
Amanda A - "They have to be held accountable"
Terrie D - "My GP let my husband die by being negligent and not sending him to hospital. He would not even see him as it was 5pm and the surgery closed at 5.30p.. GP telephone appointments are useless!!!"
Gillian B - "For my Mother...PALS should be independent...the ombudsman is just a waste of time, they will string you along then tell you that you have been 'timed out'. It took a year to tell me that I was 'timed out'?"
Constance B - "Too easy to cover things up."
Andrew M - "Good Luck with this one."
Daniel H - "I’m signing because…It's about bloody time! How much time? About 75 years - and counting - too late so far. The NHS complaints process is about the ONLY thing they do that actually works! Works for them, that is. As for their PALS, firstly STAY AWAY from those deviant greased snakes in the grass, and secondly they should be "first against the wall when the revolution comes". Okay, we may have to adjust our "sights" on that one ;-)"
Wednesday B - "Please can you all take time to also sign the direct government petition for this cause, because at 10,000 signatures the government have to respond https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/643062"
Sheila E - "I was sexually assaulted in Sunderland Royal Hospital after I had a Stroke and then the Management put me in a locked mixed sex Ward to stop me making a Complaint."
Julie H - "It should not be up to individual health boards to monitor and respond to their own complaints, this is already a biased situation. It should be independent and will also highlight failings more accurately and transparently. Not only will this give patients and their families more confidence in the system in that they will have independent investigations, it will also ensure the NHS is monitored correctly to avoid such situations escalating and to provide statistics and better outcomes for the future."
Heather D - "My heart breaks that this young man was taken from his family so soon.In his innocence God love him he trusted those who were given the task of caring for him. Whatever has gone on here needs to be investigated"
Ian B - "We need a independent agency so that the senior NHS Doctors, Surgeons, Nurses etc and who ever is involved with the hospital if they have done wrong they can’t close ranks so no body can stand against them"
Anna L - "I totally agree a close friend of mine had a baby die due to neglect from doctors and it has taken its toll on her health her life and her family"
Rachel H - "I am so sorry to hear of your sad loss of Balram and I really hope you are able to achieve what you hope to with this petition. I have experienced huge trauma in the hands of certain "medical staff" and although there are some absolutely fantastic healthcare staff when you raise concerns or make complaints the PALS service is in no way fit for purpose and one of the two that I have had dealings with work Mon-Fri 9-5pm but you call them and just get an answerphone that still says due to government guidelines staff are working remotely and someone will aim to return your call within 3 working days! which is of no use when things are going wrong at that time and no one is listening or interested. When I did make a complaint after a 5 and a half month admission to one trust in Jan 21 that included things that took place during transfers to a different trusts hospital I was told that they would lead the complaint investigation and communicate and update the other trust, which they never did and as the 2nd trust ha"
keith s - "Jay, they will tell you you already have an independent investigative body - the PHSO (Parliamentary and) Health Service Ombudsman. That is a bad joke. It leans heavily towards the hospitals, upholding around 1% of all complaints it receives about them each year now. It is supportive of them to a degree which is unfair, offensive and demeaning. You get one case worker and a line manager, in cahoots, you cannot reasonably take things any further. Other than a judicial review in court. Upwards of 50K, just to examine, not the evidence, but whether the i's have been dotted and t's crossed in the Ombudsman's processes (which the court will always tell you have been). The NHS written complaints system itself is corrupt by design; it is there to do one thing, and one thing only - and that is not to accept responsibilty for wrongdoing. Fend off damage to its reputation. It will happily tell you it does not exist to assign blame to individuals, either. When wrongdoing is intentional, staff know their Trust will still"
Lee M - "We must have transparency when something goes wrong."
Kym F - "It's the human in me."
STEPHEN P - "The NHS is not a great thing it is a poor way of providing an essential service, done better elsewhere"
Stephen S - "Personal experience."
michael L - "Too much “ Moving those responsible to other positions in NHS.”Making sure Whistle Blowers are never prompted"
Jan B - "I have been harmed by NHS "mistakes". A truly independent body to investigate is sorely needed."
Mark K - "My friend died following similar failures. Is this the new norm?"
Gerardi B - "I have first hand experience of clinicians not listening to the family, not acting in the patients best interests and then covering up their incompetence, This incompetence, rather than being exposed by the PHSO is excused and brushed under the carpet. It is about time that honesty and integrity are upheld and those who fail our loved ones are brought to account ! I whole heartedly support this petition."
Christine R - "This has got to STOP, the NHS needs to be held accountable for the unnecessary suffering and premature deaths in the UK!"
karen t - "Because we need to ensure patient wellbeing is protected at all times"
Jenny C - "Our child was born with a brain injury due to medical negligence, leading to multiple complex needs including 40-60 seizures a day, our 22 month old little girl shouldn’t have this life and neither should we. All because the staff where she was born failed to follow procedures"
Llinos O - "Unfortunately I know from experience what can happen. “Lessons will be learned…..” Well, this isn’t good enough! ‘Mistakes/Negligence will continue to happen on a daily basis unless there are serious consequences. My sincere condolences to the family and I wish them all the best with this petition."
Ruth L - "I know that patients with additional needs are often failed by the NHS"
Alison M - "My son died at 7 days old but because a suitable number of doctors would of made the same mistake there was nothing i could do"
Carolyn H - "This has to change before any more loss of lives."
Gillian P - "PALS is ineffective and despite promising change nothing happens. The complaint system needs to have teeth."
Ruth Loxham - "I know that patients with additional needs are often failed by the NHS."
Jenny Clough - "Our child was born with a brain injury due to medical negligence, leading to multiple complex needs including 40-60 seizures a day, our 22 month old little girl shouldn’t have this life and neither should we. All because the staff where she was born failed to follow procedures"
COLLECTIVELY WE CAN DO THIS!
With loving regards
Jay