Patients don’t choose to stay, they want to go home

Dear Doctor

I’d just like to say one thing to you. There is something you need to know that is very important. I know you think that many patients like to be in the hospital and take up bed space so they don’t get to go home. But I can tell you that is NOT true.

People come into hospital because the community medical people (including trained paramedics) understand and believe the need of the person is important enough to need hospital ministrations. And the a and e staff, having examined the individual, have determined a need for hospital admission.

I know how much I, myself, hate even having to visit hospital for an outpatient appointment, even when it is necessary for my mental or physical wellbeing. And I KNOW I am not the only one. At home I have family and animals and friends. Why would I want to be stuck in a bed far away from them all?

So, if you are meant to be looking after patients in a ward, or seeing them in outpatients or a and e, please can you remember they are not there by choice, but need and 99% of them REALLY don’t want to be there?

The Invisible Patient