1:31pm Monday 8th October 2007
By Reader's letter
COMING to the end of term as chair and vice-chair at the Cancer and Palliative Care Partnership Group, (CPCPG), we would like to thank all health care professionals and staff at York Hospital NHS Trust for the way they have helped the partnership group integrate within its service structure.
The CPCPG is an alliance between cancer patients, their carers and health care professionals, and is led by cancer patients and their carers, as a recognised forum within the locality, to enable them influence through consultation, the development, delivery and evaluation of cancer and palliative care services.
Taking into consideration the arduous latter day task the trust has had to comply with targets and directives, it is, nevertheless, worth noting that a few initiatives, as suggested by the group, have already taken place, and more will follow in the near future.
We would also like to mention that talking to our colleagues, also a volunteer group, but an independent statutory body, the York Hospitals NHS Trust Patients' Forum that, in the last four years, they have monitored a marked improvement in the service.
Congratulations should also be extended to York Against Cancer for the provision of a brand new seven-seater minibus that will freely operate daily, from York hospital to the new oncology wing at St James's Hospital, Leeds.
Among other activities we look forward to the forthcoming Positive Living With Cancer public event to be held on May 10, 2008, between 10.30pm and 2.30pm at the Postgraduate Centre, York Hospital.
Anyone affected by cancer is welcome to join the CPCPG. It can be contacted by email cpcpg@york.nhs.uk or phone 01904 726203 for details.
George Albertano, ex chair, Tom McCaughey, ex vice-chair, Long Furrow, Haxby, York.
THOSE of us who benefit from the service provided by the caring teams at York Hospital don't always take the time to say "thank you" properly. So here is my attempt to express my appreciation to
hospital staff past and present.
Over the years (our family has lived in York since 1969) our family has relied on the expert attention of York Hospital staff on many occasions. Each time, we were delighted.
My late father had several stays in the hospital; as his health worsened the family would get a call that the emergency doctor had been called out (usually at night) and we would take him to hospital.
Every time, the ward staff in the chest/heart ward(s) would treat us all in a kindly manner and somehow find him a bed, even though it was late.
In July, mum had a stroke and I was able to go with her in the ambulance.
Everyone, from the paramedic team, the A & E staff, those on successive wards 22, 36, 39 and Dr Coyle's team (forgive me if I forgot anyone) were not just professional, but genuinely caring about people.
Let's not forget the nurses who make home visits to the infirm and the hard working GPs.
Finally, thanks to the tremendous day unit team with Mr Woodcock, Dr Gatt and their team, which took excellent care of me last month. It's nice to know that the minor or routine is never treated as "trivial". Every case is treated with the utmost professionalism.
A business colleague was concerned that (because of the high cost) he had to let his private medical insurance lapse.
A lot of self-employed people simply cannot afford it. I had no hesitation assuring him that the care we receive in York Hospital is second to none.
Tim Stockdale, Name and address supplied.
I came home from hospital last week after a five-day stay on ward G1 due to having an operation.
All the staff were very friendly and helpful and I couldn't have enough praise for all of them, especially the nurses.
But there was at least one day when there was a shortage of staff and there seemed to be a nurse on a double shift every day.
In passing, I heard the ward sister trying to organise her staff rota on several occasions.
While I have nothing but praise for all the nurses and the care I received, the lack of staff and long shifts must have an effect as staff get tired and stressed or poorly, and that's when mistakes can happen. This could have effects on patient care.
I hope the managers start to bring in more staff to relieve this situation for all concerned so the chance of mistakes is reduced.
Rachael Eason Albany Street Leeman Road York.
With reference to the front page of The Press about the police having to buy their own boots (Buy your own boots, October 3).
Before I start, I would like make it clear that in no way am I criticising police officers, for whom I have great respect and admiration. Their job, like mine, is at times extremely hard and frustrating.
Having worked as a nurse for the NHS for the last 22 years, I cannot believe that the plight of police officers having to buy their own boots made the headlines over the small paragraph on the same page, with regard to the lack of nursing staff within York Hospital (Nursing "crisis" at hospital). This, I may add, applies to the primary care trust nursing staff.
Nursing staff have to buy their own footwear, so why not the police? A police officer's salary is far higher than that of a nurse with the same service and experience.
We've been waiting for our pay rise since April, which after much debating is only going to be two per cent, well below the cost of living at the moment. There's a headline for you.
Let's have more headlines and more support for the plight of overworked, underpaid disillusioned nursing staff in the NHS, working hard to care for patients on shoestring budgets.
More important, I think, than a pair of boots.
Rosemarie Coupland, Osbaldwick Lane, Osbaldwick, York.
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