Bouquet

Tonight I want to throw a bouquet to Margaret Haywood. She is the nurse who, on finding appalling levels of care and hygiene on a ward full of elderly patients, did all the right things, ie, spoke to the line manager. When this didn't do any good, she did secret filming for the BBC Panorma programme and blew the whistle on the whole wretched business.

She did all the correct things and got nowhere, so then she did the right thing. Sometimes you just have to shout, and she shouted. But caring for your patients so much that you are prepared to break rules and shout on their behalf is a serious offence and renders you unfit to be a nurse, because Margaret has been struck off. I wonder if I would have had the courage to do what she did?

Has anyone else been struck off? What happened to theose who were ultimately responsible for the state of those wards? Have more nurses, auxiliaries and cleaners been employed, and is there, for heaven's sake, a simple checklist of what needs doing and a system to make sure it does get done?

My uncle died in pain and distress because of a slovenly hospital. Margaret, I salute you. I wish you'd been there to shout.