I've just read Nurse Anne's Militant blog on mealtimes. Now I know that when my dad goes into hospital, I shall ask the staff if I need to be there to feed him. Relatives cluttering up the space can't be good, but neither is a ratio of 1-8 or 10 patients (on a good day, seemingly), with that one trying to deal with meals for people who can't feed themselves, medical emergencies, or simple things like bed-pans and commodes all at the same time. In some cuntries I believe relatives go into hospitals to take their sick ones meals. In some cases - where special dietary conditions do not need to be met - might this not be a bad idea here? I know we've 'paid' for the NHS, but more and more it looks like we're paying the administrators and supervisors who have relatively cushy numbers and are no practical use down at the sharp end than we are for those who we really need to staff the NHS: efficient and responsible nurses in numbers which allow them to ~be~ sufficient and responsible.