bbc.com
Daughter Criticizes Hospital's End-of-Life Care
Following the death of her father, Phil Coogan, at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in May, Joanne Coogan criticized the hospital's end-of-life care, citing inadequate hygiene, poor communication, and a doctor's inappropriate laughter after her father's passing.
- What specific failings in end-of-life care did Joanne Coogan identify at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital?
- Ms. Coogan reported that her father was not washed regularly, staff did not communicate properly with the family, they had to help him use the toilet despite requesting assistance, and a doctor laughed after her father's death. These failures resulted in a lack of dignity and respect for her father in his final days.
- What actions has the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS trust taken in response to Ms. Coogan's criticism?
- The UHB NHS trust has apologized to Ms. Coogan and her family. They have also spoken to the involved staff, requiring some to complete further training, particularly in communication skills for end-of-life care. They have accepted Ms. Coogan's offer to help improve training from a family's perspective.
- How do the issues raised by Ms. Coogan's experience relate to broader concerns about end-of-life care, including hospice funding?
- Ms. Coogan's experience highlights deficiencies in hospital end-of-life care, particularly concerning communication and dignity. This connects to broader concerns about hospice funding; she praised Birmingham Hospice's care and noted that underfunding forces hospices to reduce beds despite rising demand due to people living longer with complex health conditions. Government funding, while increased, remains a crucial factor in ensuring sustainable end-of-life care.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced account of the situation, including both the daughter's criticism and the hospital's apology and response. The headline is factual and doesn't sensationalize the situation. The inclusion of the hospital's detailed response prevents the article from solely focusing on the negative aspects.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. While the daughter's emotional distress is conveyed, it is presented as her subjective experience rather than a judgment on the hospital. The use of quotes allows for direct representation of the involved parties' perspectives.
Bias by Omission
The article could benefit from including perspectives from other patients or staff members at the hospital to offer a more comprehensive view of the hospital's end-of-life care. The focus is primarily on one family's experience. Additionally, while hospice funding is mentioned, details regarding the overall funding of end-of-life care within the NHS could provide more context.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights failings in end-of-life care at a hospital, including lack of hygiene, communication issues, and a lack of compassion from some staff. This directly impacts the quality of life and dignity of patients in their final days, falling short of SDG 3 which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The inadequate care described constitutes a significant negative impact on the achievement of this goal. The subsequent apology and commitment to improved training represent steps towards improvement, but the reported incidents clearly demonstrate current deficiencies.