I write most of my blog posts from Spoons (unkind people have said that they can tell). Now that I am gainfully employed again this now takes place on weekends while waiting for friends which is probably more socially acceptable. While you probably can’t get away with doing proper and in-depth research and thinking in one, Spoons are actually ideal places to write something which you’ve already done some thinking on/know a bit about - they have reliable WiFi, they’re not too bright or too dark, they’re quiet during the day, the seats are comfortable, the app is great, and nobody thinks you’re odd if you’re just sat there.
This week’s blog post comes from Calderdale Royal Hospital (not as a patient). Regrettably I’ve spent a lot of time recently milling around hospitals and previously did it on fact finding missions. They do not make ideal places to write anything. They tend to be too bright and stuffy and there is a lack of places to sit and the WiFi is shockingly unreliable. They’re also often very stressful and depressing places (for obvious reasons) and, despite them literally being places of life and death, they are often mind numbingly boring.
The refreshments on offer are also shockingly limited. There will definitely be a ‘convenience’ store where you can buy mints, Pringles, and a Twix. There will probably be a Costa or something similar but they tend to have limited menus and few places to sit. There are sometimes also other cafes but this is never a guarantee.
The catering point is an important one. The food served to patients by the NHS is generally only one level above what you’d get in Belmarsh. The fact that it is just so unappetising means that patients are often reluctant to eat it and so they don’t get their strength back and take longer to recover and essentially become bed blockers. It also places an added burden on their loved ones who might find themselves having to make additional trips into the local town or city in order to buy their friend or family member something tasty and nutritious.
It’s also not great for NHS staff. These are incredibly busy people performing vitally important roles. Moreover, they often work irregular and unsociable hours meaning that most places in hospitals and nearby are closed by the time they want a meal and so they have to either prepare something at home or order a takeaway to the hospital.
Patients, their loved ones, and Our NHS staff deserve better.
NHS hospitals should be told to actively encourage private businesses such as Spoons, McDonald’s, Nando’s, et al and perhaps even cinemas to build their stores either within the hospital where there is space available or to build on the grounds or even on the top of hospitals. As long as this is done in a way which is not disruptive to patients and staff then they should go for it.
While admittedly none of these stores are known for being ‘healthy’ and obviously the public health lobby would hate it, it is better than the alternative of patients not eating and so being an additional burden on the NHS in the long run and our hard working doctors and nurses facing limited options. It obviously won’t be appropriate for all patients and it would be insulting to suggest that this could incentivise NHS staff to start drinking on the job, so overall it would be a net benefit.
There is also the financial aspect of all this. NHS Trusts are often strapped for cash and so managers have to do what they can with what they’ve got. The Trusts would obviously be able to charge these businesses rent. They could also insist that a proportion of the profits made flow to them through an ‘NHS surcharge’. There would also be the option to make a donation to the Trust when you placed your order or paid your bill. All of this is potentially a significant revenue raiser for the NHS.
Thanks as ever for reading. I might write something else tomorrow as well so keep your eyes peeled!