The NHS killing machine is alive and well

A couple of days ago, there were stories in several papers about a new report suggesting up to 40,000 people a year were getting Acute Kidney Injuries (AKI) because of dehydration (not being given enough water to drink in NHS hospitals)  www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10778537/Thousands-die-of-thirst-and-poor-care-in-NHS.html

This report was touted as ‘new’ and ‘shocking’ and a ‘surprise’ and so on and so forth.

But hold on a minute. In 2007 (7 years ago) I ghost-wrote and paid for the publication of a book called WHO CARES? by a Midlands housewife, Amanda Steane. WHO CARES? describes in appalling detail how her husband Paul suffered kidney failure from dehydration in an NHS hospital; how a blood test showing he was about to suffer kidney failure was taken from his files so the hospital could avoid responsibility; how a whistle-blowing nurse sent Amanda a copy of the incriminating blood test which the hospital said didn’t exist and how, after losing a leg, his voice, the ability to breathe properly and suffering terrible pain, her 40-year-old husband committed suicide.

At the time, I got hold of an NHS report (which has since ‘disappeared’ from the NHS website) putting the figure of unnecessary deaths in NHS hospitals at 34,000 per year. So, this story is not new. In fact, since WHO CARES? was published possibly up to 280,000 patients have unnecessarily suffered from AKI in our wonderful hospitals which are supposed to be the ‘envy of the world’. Perhaps, supporters of the NHS should change ‘envy of the world’ to ‘envy of the Third World’?

If anyone wants to find out how the NHS really works, then just read WHO CARES? After the book appeared, Amanda received a flood of emails from readers describing how their family members suffered from poor care. Just 3 typical stories:

1. “My father went into the Victoria Hospital Blackpool with a stroke; I noticed on the weekend that his urine output had suddenly dropped to zero; I informed the duty doctor, who looked at me as though she’s trodden in something. They eventually got round to seeing him, but he died 36 hours later. He appeared totally dehydrated.”

2.  “The biggest mistake I have ever made in my life, by far, was to allow myself to be convinced my GP that the NHS, beneath its crust of inefficiency, rudeness, and bureaucracy, may in fact have a caring heart and is competent. And therefore, I allowed myself to be convinced to abandon my plans for private treatment for one of my conditions and let the NHS do it.

The result was that as a result of their wonderful caring heart, the NHS gave me a disability which has destroyed my life, and now denies any wrongdoing, doesn’t care, doesn’t listen, denies that anything can be done to improve the situation and carries on butchering countless others. I hate the NHS with all my heart.”

3. “Eighteen months ago, a family member had a stroke. When the ambulance finally arrived, the guys were great, suggesting they drive over the border to the Chester Countess pronto, rather than a Welsh hospital. This was after much delay from the telephone handler going through a check list, and a First Responder needing to be on-site and seeng the patient, before the ambulance was authorised. Disgraceful – so much for the magic hour!

On arriving in the Countess, and although he ambulance staff were brilliant at trying to push the patient up the list, it took another hour for her to be seen by a doctor, due to the sheer number of people in A&E. To me, the staff appeared to be switched off – perhaps overwhelmed, or just not bothered. Some 6 hours later, she was on her way to a specialist neurological unit in Liverpool.

She lives today in a rehabilitation unit, at great cost to the Exchequer, her mobility impaired, unable to speak or care for herself. We believe that this is down to the Magic Hour being hopelessly broken.”