Letter: Bed sore bother

Ann McCarter is right to be concerned about patients dying in hospital, with bed sores or pressure sores shown as the cause of death (Letters, 24 September). But to describe this as "a disgrace to the nursing profession" may not be right.

Seventy-eight people died because of bedsores and pressure sores in Scotland during a five-year period; that's about 16 deaths a year. Divided into patient-bed-nights, the figure seems low.

There are about 200 hospitals in Scotland that are not dental, maternity or children's hospitals.

Before judging harshly, one would need to know how many such patients were admitted with advanced pressure sores, the treatment of which is invasive and disturbing and in the case of a patient dying of advanced old age or terminal illness, may not be appropriate when quiet, gentle palliative care may be kinder.

Having worked in a Cheshire Home in which we had to turn and massage patients every two hours, and now visiting another care home daily, I believe that caution needs to be exercised before turning on our nurses.

International comparisons can be made. I recall while studying in Brussels, commenting on the low Belgian suicide statistics when compared with the Scottish statistics. I was told "that is because you report suicides honestly - we don't".

Michael Hamilton

Stodrig Cottages

Kelso