Hospital tiles fiasco

11:59am Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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I REFER to your article on Alty.General. There is little cause to be enthusiastic about this project. I use the example of the Trafford General main corridor NEW tiling, which was recently introduced.

It will have to be ripped up and replaced spending valuable NHS resources. It is a nightmare to keep clean, it rattles every wheelchair and trolley creating unbearable noise levels for visitors, staff and patients alike. You only have to spend a few minutes in this area to realise what an incompetent decision it was. My swimming baths has a similar non-slip surface, but doesn't have critically ill patients being wheeled up and down it's poolside. Even the contractors laying the tiles had advised against, but were ignored.

Orthopaedic patients straight out of theatre now have to detour around another corridor (via Suite 5) to avoid the new tiles as they are painful to the patients and not unlike a rollercoaster ride. The resusitation officer has advised people attending emergency crash-calls with a defib, to divert around also due to risk of damaging defibrillator equipment. When you are already in pain, it is something you don't need. Patients have already complained. I am amazed that the Estates department did not block such a ridiculous purchase idea in the first place and you will not find these tiles in any other hospital corridor!

Someone should have been sacked for this level of moronic decision making. We have to put up with resources being wasted ALL of the time and managers seemingly promoted BEYOND their levels of competence.

Frustrated Trafford General employee.