Long before the BBC Panorama revelations last year, I wrote, In November 2004, to the then Minister for Health & Social Services in Wales, Jane Hutt AM, telling her of the disgraceful treatment of an elderly patient in the same ward as my 92 year old aunt whom I was visiting at Cardiff’s Heath Hospital.
Fortunately my aunt’s stay visit was brief. Her daughter, my cousin was so appalled at the treatment of the elderly patients, she insisted on removing her mother; deciding she would be better off being nursed at home.
I catalogued what I had witnessed, as well as other horror stories told me by relatives of elderly patients, and subsequently got a reply from the Deputy Minister John Griffiths AM, who held a special responsibility portfolio for older people.
I suggested that he did what I had done; make a personal visit to the ward, but incognito, so he could witness for himself the treatment of elderly patients as I had done. His only suggestion, I quote: ‘…I would like to thank you for drawing these matters to my attention…I am most concerned when instances of this nature occur…it is important…matters…should be properly investigated…I would urge you or those involved to take them up via the appropriate organisations using complaints channel as necessary in each case…’
What he failed to understand was that few in that ward, for various reasons, did not have the means of complaining, and too many elderly patients in hospitals were afraid to complain because their treatment by hospital staff often worsened, since those involved retaliated with a vindictiveness bordering on the sadistic.
All these were, and remain, among the cover-ups those in authority have kept from public view. Those who seek public office, and are well remunerated for doing the job to which they have been appointed, should be investigated. If found guilty of failing in their duty of responsibility, their shortcomings should be disclosed and the public made aware. After all, if Mr & Mrs Joe Bloggs have to pay the price, so should those who have milked the system for too long.
