12.8 Problems in Relation to Hospital Attendance

Discussion group 6 were supplied with a ranked list of problems associated with hospital attendance in the previous year; these problems had been experienced by women and/or their families from the research sample and were recorded as a result of responses to Question 43 in the survey.  The group was asked to say how they felt about the findings and to offer suggestions for promotion and lobbying by IWIN. 
o The problem of a "Long Wait to be seen" emerged at the top of the list and the discussion group felt that this was particularly the case for patients entering through Casualty.  The medical service was good, however, once you obtained the attention you needed.  Waiting for outpatient appointments was not helped if there were not enough consultants available for the different specialties - for example, one woman stated that there was only 'one Ear Doctor to cover the whole of Sligo and Donegal'. 
o "Getting the Right Information" when in hospital was a big problem for many women - language difficulties when the doctor had poor English was only one element in this.  It was sometimes difficult to make sense of the leaflets given to explain your condition - you needed to get it in 'language that you can understand'.  "Bring back the community nurse", was one suggestion to help patients get the information they needed.
o Further problems were caused when there was felt to be a "Lack of Respect and Understanding" between patient and doctor.  It was one woman's opinion that  "Consultants deal with what is on the paper in front of them and don't listen to what the patient is trying to tell them".  It was also felt that 'you needed to be brave to ask for an explanation of tests', although the group acknowledged that this was their right and that they were entitled to answers.  A difference was also believed to exist between both the attitude towards, and the treatment given, to private and public patients - 'it shouldn't be, but it is different'.
o "Poorly Timed Appointments" in Dublin hospitals caused particular difficulties for the women of Inishowen; this was the case when they were arranged early in the morning or late in the afternoon and a person was trying to suit bus times.  This sometimes meant an overnight stay that could have been avoided.  Even appointments at Letterkenny General Hospital frequently involved a full day away from home, especially if public transport didn't suit, or a lift had to be arranged.  One woman was informed that when appointments were made, only the name was available and not the address, so they had no knowledge of the distance that had to be traveled by the patient.
It was a source of anger and frustration for women that certain hospital facilities were not available locally and that travel to Dublin for diagnosis and treatment was so often necessary.  "Transport Problems", which create difficulties in every other aspect of life in Inishowen, then become an added burden for patients and their families who have to travel long distances.  The "Financial Burden" that goes hand-in-hand with these transport problems can o bring some families to breaking point.  "When you are sick, you don't have the strength to deal with these hurdles", one woman remarked.
o "Accommodation" in hospital was felt to have 'changed for the better over the years' - parents can stay with their children and 'mattresses are provided for overnight stays'.  The children were 'happier' and the nursing staff 'helped' by this approach.

12.9 Summary of recommendations from the Focus Groups

The following summary contains an overview of the recommendations gleaned from the focus groups held on International Rural Women's Day, the 15^th October 2002.  Because the women involved discussed many issues that emerged from the research as a whole, these recommendations cover all of the themes originally planned for the entire research project under the seven planned headings:  Life in Inishowen, Isolation, Poverty, Employment, Childcare, Education and Health (including satisfaction with life). 

Life in Inishowen

· The growing problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse in Inishowen need to be acknowledged and addressed on several fronts.  In particular, the effect of these problems on levels of crime and violence required a much more rigorous approach by the Gardai and the Government, both local and central.
· Issues connected with poverty, isolation and deprivation highlighted in the current research might best be addressed by local community efforts to promote a stronger sense of community and to build on the good quality of life that is in danger of disappearing from Inishowen.
· The completely inadequate public transport system available in Inishowen must be tackled as a matter of urgency.