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Patients call nurse with tambourine

Wales News Service
Wales News Service

A hospital in Wales has apologised for giving its elderly patients a tambourine to call nurses in case of an emergency.

Families of the elderly patients were mortified when they found out a tambourine had been put in the isolated day room after the patients feared that their cries for help would not be heard

The staff at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary said they had previously places a hand bell in the West wing day room, but it was too heavy for the elderly patients to lift.

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One furious relative even claimed that a pair of maracas had also been placed in the room in case the tambourine broke.

He said, “It is ridiculous. These people are pensioners, not members of the Monkees or Mick Jagger.”

“Where is the dignity in asking old and frail people to bash on a tambourine if they are in trouble? It makes the NHS look like a laughing stock,” he said.

The relative who took the photo of the tambourine by the bed said he shook it for 16 minutes and no staff came.

Steve Allen, Chief Officer of Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan health council, said the use of the tambourine was “totally inappropriate and totally unacceptable.”

“Patients shouldn’t have to resort to shaking a tambourine to get nurses assistance,” he said.

The story came out after 30 patients in the Hospitals West wing complained of being ‘too scared’ to use the day room in case staff wouldn’t hear their calls of help.

Wales’ older people’s commissioner Ruth Marks said, “This does not afford any patient dignity and respect, let alone safety.”

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“Resources may be limited, but installing a system so people can easily call for help whilst in hospital must be a priority,” she said.

Ruth Walker, executive director of nursing for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, yesterday apologised to the patients and their family for the tambourine.

“Sadly the solution, while well intentioned, was not appropriate…The care and dignity of all our patients is vitally important to everyone at the health board and we sincerely apologise for any distress this has caused,” she said.

A light weight bell has now been sourced in case of an emergency and patient will now be accompanied at all times when using the room.

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