The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Always, it seems, in the press we hear of people catching MRSA (or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus as it is fully known) following a hospital operation. When we actually know that person its BAD. And when that person we know, passes away possibly because of MRSA, it becomes UGLY. Keith Wall had been a friend of our family since I was young. I can't remember a time when he and my dad weren't friends. The Wilson and Wall families shared several holidays together in the 60s. Although not perfect (like none of us are), Keith was a GOOD man. Kind, thoughtful and ever loving of his wife, the lovely yet scatterbrained Muriel, Keith and Muriel were at my wedding in 1980. They were also at my son's wedding in December 2008. Shortly before Jonathan's wedding, he went into Solihull Heartlands Hospital for a knee replacement operation. He was re-admitted to Solihull Heartlands again in February with complications. After he was placed in isolation, it was thought that he had contracted MRSA from 'somewhere'. Keith tragically died from a massive heart attack on Sunday 5th April 2009, as complications due to Vasculitis.

As we all know MRSA is an incurable septic disease that is caused by poor hygiene before, during or after an invasive operation. We also know that MRSA causes increase in blood pressure and increase in cardiac load. This may then trigger heart attack or other cardiac deficiencies. MRSA may well have been the initial cause of Keith's vasculitis. Although some other allergen may have been the cause. We will never know now. Whatever the reason, The cause of the Vasculitis had entered the bloodstream, and this would most likely have been while he was recovering from his knee op!

Who is to blame? Can we blame someone? Should we blame someone?

It seems that there are lots of things to look at. The people who don't wash their hands when visiting friends in hospital. The people (staff) who don't wash their hands between examinations of patients or as often as they should. And then there's people who can't or won't learn to read English, so they are shamefully unaware of the problem. The hospital trust, too, knows if they have a problem, from obligatory constant swabbing and monitoring of the environment.

I, however, blame the government. Starting with Margaret Thatcher, who changed the way we run the country. Public services suddenly became businesses. Running at a profit. Not being run because we need them. The constant underfunding and running down of our NHS would make Nye Bevan turn over and wince in his grave.

This running for profit and not service mentality has gone on and on, passing from Thatcher to Major, then switching sides to Blair and now Brown. These four Muppets of Parliament should each take some blame.

Keith Wall was a decent chap who deserved more than to end his days like this, in a hospital bed.
RIP Keith. God Bless You mate.

DTW 6/4/2009