Hospital views

FIRSTLY, let me thank you for printing my reply to the recent article in the Mercury. I thought it might be filed in the wastepaper basket.The staff are not allowed to answer back and we almost never hear they are verbally and physically abused by patients and the public. It is a hard job, as I know from my 48 years nursing experience.Because of illness, holidays and maternity leave there are always going to be shortages of staff.In some countries the patient's families are encouraged to sit with the patient for 24 hours a day. They help with the bedside nursing, and it works. Should we not consider it? The hospital would also welcome volunteers to help feed patients, man the tea trolleys, etc.MARGARET DINGLEY - Berrow Ward, Weston General MY HUSBAND, Howard Pinn, was recently a patient in Kewstoke Ward, Weston hospital. The attention and care he and others received was absolutely marvellous.MARY R PINN - Spring Hill, WorlePRAISE for the paramedics that attended to my mum, who were very happy and approachable.On arriving at Weston hospital's accident and emergency she was put into a cubicle. Two people came over to my mum, who never even introduced themselves. They could have been just dressed in fancy dress costume. They took my mum's blood pressure and temperature then went away, with no indication of what was going to happen next. We did not know until a porter came along and said that he was taking my mum to X- ray.I do feel that staff should be taught about communication with patients. Whatever happened to what were called the angels of nursing? I am afraid that they are very few and far between.DEBBIE GIBSON - Meadow Street, Weston