Appalling
My elderly relative was admitted on 30th May with pneumonia. Her given name is E. She is 92 and confused. Every day I explained to the wards that her chosen name is B - she was in 7 days. Not until day 5 did they start calling her B. No wonder she was awkward. They further said that she wasn’t fit to go home as she was very agitated and unsafe when walking. I know - because I know her - that she was no more unsafe than when at home and she was agitated because people were pushing her to do things she didn’t want to do. Eventually I persuaded someone that she would be better off at home and so she was discharged on 6 June. Someone rang me to say she was leaving the ward at 16.36. My husband went at 1615 - as this is the time we were told - to meet the ambulance and help them into the building. At 1806 she hadn’t arrived - a 5 minute journey. When I called the ward at 1806 I was told that she had refused to get into the ambulance. Now even I know, and I’m not a nurse nor used to dealing with patients like B, that she would be frightened they were taking her somewhere other than home. It would have been right for the ward to ring me, I could have gone and travelled with her in the ambulance. They did nothing but abandon their duty of care to the patient so I said we would collect her and take her home. Why didn’t they ring me? When I arrived I was told that she had threatened one person and been awkward. All this in her hearing. First of all it’s their job to deal with that - isn’t it - and secondly what good did it do telling me and in front of B. There is such a lot wrong with how B was treated and I cannot imagine that many, frail, disorientated patients don’t behave like her. Perhaps some awareness training needs adding. I am very frustrated. The reason fir this isn’t just to complain but for you to consider if additional training should be given. Tones and voices, smiles, correct names - all help.