Breathtaking: facts and lies re COVID in the NHS

As a clinician in a senior management role I worked all throughout covid in one of the biggest teaching hospitals trusts in the country.
It has been hard to watch this series and I was concerned that the dr who wrote it who is a known Labour political activist would have a particular slant on things….

Having watched it all I can say is that not all hospitals were the same. Our hospital had joint working between clinicians , managers and one of the most important people in this time the supplies team who did an outstanding job sourcing PIP.

People need to remember that those early days were uncharted territory for the govt, hospitals, and patients. We looked to the govt and scientific advisors for advice and guidance.

People seemed to think that the govt wanted to kill people and that hospitals were agreeing with this. Our only aim was to keep people safe. Sending patients to care homes was what we ALL thought was the best thing for patients - hospitals are dangerous places at the best of times and in those early days of covid the aim was to get patients who didn’t need to be there out and away from patients in hospital who did have covid. Dont believe everything you have seen on the TV.

This is not for me. I lived through it and don’t wish to revisit it. To much doom and gloom for me.

I can’t face watching this. I lost my younger brother 2021, Undiagnosed cancer because he was told to stay away from the hospital. My dd is a doctor and lived this hell. It is scandalous.

When DH had his heart attack I readily agreed to a DNR, confirmed by him once he was able to a couple of days later. He came home to recover and live a gentle life for three months until he caught an infection which his weak heart was not able to fight. If he had died from the first heart attack I am sure any attempt at CPR would not have been beneficial even if he had survived it. He was given plenty of other treatment - no stinting on oxygen, medication, drips, tests, then home visits from the cardiac nurse and GP. Quality of care was never an issue.
It was the right, informed decision, though it did not need to be implemented.

You would think, though, that having notes on a patient's history (fairly fit), and knowing it was the hospital which put that particular patient in ICU anyway by their negligence, the Consultant would bear that in mind when putting DNR on the notes.

Thank you for your input maddyone. I am one who didn’t really realise what happens during CPR. A friend and her husband were advised against it if he had another heart attack but it was only the resulting poor quality of life for him that was explained and not the physical aspect. Food for thought here.

The survival rate for a witness Cardiac arrest is under 15 % as an NHS Professional I have been present many times and actively involved, it's not nice for the patient.
Those that survive are very lucky.

There is a Hospital Black humour saying that NHS staff get DNR tattoo to their chest.

I suppose they don't want to give false hope or are on the autistic spectrum.,

I agree, some doctors are far too blunt.

I’m so sorry Marydoll.

Dickens, thank you, you are very kind. I have to admit at being shocked at how blunt my usually gentle and kind R.A. consultant was, however I realise it couldn't have been any other way.
Now my cardiologist was a different kettle of fish. He was born blunt and sugar coats nothing. 😉

Surprisingly, I don't feel sorry for myself, just blooming mad that I no no longer have control over my health issues and mind over matter,just doesn't work any more. 😉
I have a lot of living yet to do!! It just has to be on a limited basis, however, this new way of life has happened much sooner than I ever anticipated. ☹

I echo Dickens post, stay as well as you can

Marydoll I’m so sorry if my post upset you, and I’m very sure from your posts that you will be fully informed about resuscitation. However, my doctor daughter told me herself that many people do not understand properly what happens during CPR. She has had to explain fully to families what exactly they are asking for. She no longer works in hospitals, except as a GP doing some out of hours clinics, and so no longer has to explain to families why CPR may not be in the best interests of the patient, who is often very old and frail.

Marydoll

^The problem is that members of the public do not understand what resuscitation actually involves. Often ribs are broken, organs are damaged, and bleeding occurs.^.

DH and I have already discussed how brutal resuscitation is (not an easy, but a necessary conversation) and knowing what it entails, we have agreed on the minimum of intervention. My consultant explained that I probably wouldn't survive anyway. (That was another difficult conversation)

Therefore, I have to try and stay as well as I can be! 😉

Marydoll

Just

And stay as well as you can. x

The problem is that members of the public do not understand what resuscitation actually involves. Often ribs are broken, organs are damaged, and bleeding occurs..

DH and I have already discussed how brutal resuscitation is (not an easy, but a necessary conversation) and knowing what it entails, we have agreed on the minimum of intervention. My consultant explained that I probably wouldn't survive anyway. (That was another difficult conversation)

Therefore, I have to try and stay as well as I can be! 😉

I’ve been watching Breathtaking avidly but had to record tonight’s episode. When I got to the end, the recording ran out so I missed the end! I saw them all sit in a circle and begin to talk. Can anyone kindly tell me if I missed much at the end or if it’s worth me watching it again on ITVX?

I was admitted to hospital with Covid on 1st January 2021. When that date flashed up I was taken back to that day. Although very ill I didn’t require ICU. I found the whole programme very moving and at times difficult to watch.

Re DNRs. Family do not have to agree to a DNR, but most hospitals will ensure that they are involved. The problem is that members of the public do not understand what resuscitation actually involves. Often ribs are broken, organs are damaged, and bleeding occurs. It is brutal and many people, especially older people, cannot survive it, or they survive it very damaged. It is not always the best course of action. If resuscitation is done, it’s because the patient has died. Some people are lucky and can be brought back. My 64 year old brother in law wasn’t lucky. He was given resuscitation but died anyway. My sister asked for his pyjamas back, but was told that they had been burned. That would have been because the pyjamas were covered in blood and the staff wouldn’t want his wife to see that.

I have a feeling that these true fact based drama documentaries are going to be the only channel we are going to have to rectify the wrongs inflicted on the Public by incompetent Governments. I've not much hope via the next election, regardless of outcome

Wow, lucky you found out *Calistemon. Sadly my friends husband didn't get the chance.
Because there was no visiting allowed, the Comms Team phoned next-of-kin with a daily update of patients in ICU, MadeinYorkshire, that's how I found out. They said DH had agreed to it but they had already put him in an induced coma so he couldn't have done.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thank you for letting us know .
I'll be watching it avidly .

Is it possible to lodge an anti-DNR note somewhere, in advance of being hospitalised? It is outrageous that they are being assigned to people without their consent.

To be fair, though - my mum is 88 and has had a few operations recently. There has been no suggestion that her age is being held against her in any way.

Callistemon21

^Sadly I believe that is still happening - DNR's are something that should be discussed with the patient and their families but aren't being. My friend's mum found out her dad had a DNR slapped on him on admission and that it said in his notes that it had been discussed with his family, which it certainly wasn't!^
Same thing happened with DH. I was very cross when I found out as it was neglect by the hospital which had landed him in ICU (not Covid-related) and they had no idea of what he was like before admittance. Another Consultant took it off his notes when I found out. Thankfully, the rest of the staff were far more caring and he recovered.

Wow, lucky you found out *Calistemon. Sadly my friends husband didn't get the chance.

It really is disgusting, and it now seems to be 'policy' from above ... everyone of a certain age (over 60 it seems, or disabled) please take note!

I'm quite happy with the fact that I may well see myself off when I have had enough, but I will not be allowing them to take that choice from me ... Sadly, despite me being a member of the medical profession earlier on in my life (probably still would have been if my health allowed it) I no longer trust them, and I know that whistleblowers like Dr Rachel Clarke (her diaries were the basis of the drama) in the NHS, especially those that actually care for their patients rather than policy, are being harassed out of the profession. This poor man is one of them.

twitter.com/i/status/1754470254867001550

I had an outpatient appt for a gastroscopy recently and as part of the pre procedure interview I was shocked to be asked if I had an Advance Care Directive ie DNR (presumably if I collapsed during what is usually a routine procedure).
I replied that indeed I did want resuscitation if necessary, as I had walked into the dept. As a reasonably fit person!!