MIL

[Oma]

As I’ve said on chat MIL has been very confused and delirious these past few days.
we feel the treatment she has been getting very lacking ,
We flagged her confusion on Wednesday it wasn’t till yesterday when SIL insisted on a water test that one was done.
Only started Antibiotics today after protein and blood found in her urine .

Very little physio or Drs visits , it’s been a case of keep them in bed they are less of a problem.
Several times she has wet herself because no one has came to toilet her.
Lack of nurses hasn’t helped ,

Dirty wards , atrocious food and general lack of care plus it stinks as people are bed bound and soiling themselves.

Dementia patients screaming all day and night, it’s horrendous.

We have had grave concerns for the past week.
Martin went in today and demanded a meeting with the Drs ,
Voiced his concerns and that the whole family are worried and feel the lack of care is unacceptable

The outcome is they have finally found her a bed in a rehab unit and she is being transferred there tomorrow.

It is a 28 bed unit each person has their own room and bathroom , physio and Drs on site ,
she will be encouraged to get out of bed get dressed and walk every day help to get her confidence back with a view to maybe get back home in a month or so.

On the plus side she was up and in the chair when we went in tonight and back to normal.
She will have to have oxygen for a while even maybe when she gets home, but for now we're just thankful she is getting out of there.

We have spent many years in different wards with B and never have we had the lack of care than we have seen on these geriatric wards.

There are some lovely caring nurses but several who are down right nasty.

A complaint will be going in as soon as MIL is moved , nothing will come of it no doubt .

[Daisy]

Oma, what you describe is exactly how it was in a men's general ward when DS1 was admitted. As I mentioned DIL wrote to the chief nurse (Matron?) and a couple of other people setting out all the problems - everything from a portakabin dumped outside the windows blocking all the light, to urinals not being emptied - left on a shelf ! - patients not being toileted, broken bins, no physio at the week-ends and spasmodic during the week, even really silly things like one poor chap (quite young) could see two clocks telling different times (DIL put them right!), filthy dirty curtains, overcrowding, the list goes on and on. The curtains were changed the next day, but we couldn't wait to get DS discharged.

I'm so relieved that your MIL is being transferred straight away.

I feel desperately sorry for those patients who have no-one to fight their corner and are left to suffer.

[Nanto2girls]

Oma, pleased MIL is being moved today.

[Sum1Ls]

That’s dreadful Oma. There seems to be a huge variation between hospitals and wards. Apart from the way the NHS has been neglected since 2010, the pay erosion has meant that staff are leaving in droves and the most unglamorous specialisms are the very worst, relying on agency staff and an endless churn.

I couldn’t fault my recent stay at Royal Preston, but that was major trauma and I’m just glad that I didn’t end up in a geriatric ward.

Such a relief to know that MiL is now being properly cared for and that you are all able to advocate for her.

[Plantaholic]

Oma, that is very worrying, good job Mil has someone to fight her corner.

[Oma]

I feel sorry for the poor old people who have very little visitors so no one to see their treatment.

Daisy it was the same with the curtains , dirty and hanging off the rails, not going around the bed enough to give privacy when being seen too.

When B was in having Chemo it was the Blue sort of zig zag curtains that covered all the rail, Drug cabinets were clean and large and bedside cabinets at the right height.
MILs was so high she couldn’t reach the top.
Each night whoever went in took anti bac wipes to clean her tray down.

we we’re in one night with our Martin and he had to wash her sippy cup out and get paper towels to dry it , it was disgusting.
When he spoke to the ward sister she said that’s all they had , that didn’t excuse not being washed.

We can’t fault the wards B was on in there or the Freemans to be fair but can’t say the same for Geriatric unit.

[Plantaholic]

My sister discharge herself from a Geriatric ward and decided to go home with care from district nurse, she realised they were just waiting for her to die.

[WeeGranny]

I thought it was just the hospital OH was in ! First ward, which I think was Oncology, was a nightmare. At that stage, OH was prone to wander, so they'd get him up to sit in a chair which was fine, but they put a cushion which set off an alarm everytime he moved!! Glad I wasn't one of the other patients! Especially as the alarm wasn't immediately switched of by nursing staff. They carried out noisy procedures behind curtains but everyone could hear what was going on, not pleasant! That was the ward where we were told OH was being discharged the following day with no support in place, DS told them in no uncertain terms that they weren't! The ward was always in a state of chaos with equipment everywhere and none too clean looking!
The second stay was on the geriatric ward, but he was in a room of his own. DD asked if he could were an alzheimers wrist band because there were no signs to say he had dementia and was told hat all patients were treated as if they had dementia because of their age! My heart skipped a beat when i went in and the bed and room were completely empty and no one knew where he was! He's been for xrays but he couldn't tell me that. I found the staff very dismissive of any concerns and I came away in tears a couple of times at the way he was being treated. It did seem cleaner, but I didn't like the fact that the wards were mixed sex. Had to book a visiting time, but several times, DD turned up and followed someone into the ward and she wasn't questioned by any of the staff. So much for security.
On the other hand, I have nothing but praise for his care in the nursing home. OK we were paying for it, but it was a different caring environment and highlighted what the NHS used to be like. Such a shame.

[WeeGranny]

Oma, hope that MiL's move goes well and that she settles and makes a good recovery!

[Nanto2girls]

Some of these stories about the state of some hospitals sound horrendous.

Hope MIL has moved and is getting settled in.

[Oma]

She hasn’t gone yet , they are waiting for the consultant to sign off her portable oxygen
Been sat in the discharge lounge all day ,
My niece went in this afternoon and they were taking her back to the ward ,
Shes very upset and angry,
Give the staff nurse her due she was on the phone ages trying to sort it .
We hope it’s tomorrow now. Honestly we could write a book .

WG it seems it’s happening in all hospitals doesn’t it .

[Gemini]

I hope it's not long Oma. She will be much happier once she is moved xxx

[Plantaholic]

Now I am a geriatric, I dread having to go into hospital.

I am so sorry your MIL is not going to be discharged, no wonder she is upset and angry.

[Gemini]

Plant, like Oma's MIL you have plenty of people fighting your corner should you need to go into hospital.
It is the elderly with no family or advocates I feel truly sorry for.

[Oma]

Just had a phone call she is finally on her way to the rehab unit ,
We will ring later to see if it’s ok to visit,
Being as she’s just on her way they may want to get her settled tonight before any visitors.
If so we will go tomorrow afternoon.