This Blog entry is a painful one to make. I let them do it
again. When I left St. Peter’s Hospital I promised myself I was going to put a
stop to what was going on. It took me a fair time to get started and I always
felt bad about that.
I had a broken ankle and other problems, but the truth is I
should have done more and quicker. Should have got my act together; higher,
longer, faster.
So, my reward is on www.careopinion.org.uk, which is a
site to encourage people to make comments about standards of treatment; this
entry dated 18/2/13, is about Accident and Emergency at St. Peter’s.
Regular readers will have read similar stories which I have
re-printed here from the last few years. As long as I am able to I will go on
doing so; those you can check out in the archive section.
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“Poor care of my elderly, very poorly, father”
Posted by neeliethere (as a relative) 18/2/13
My story started almost two weeks ago. I took my father to
A&E at St Peters on a Monday afternoon. He had completely lost the use of
his legs due to complete weakness. We arrived and had to have assistance to
help him into a wheelchair. He was eventually triaged and then transferred into
a cubicle. After several hours he was seen by a doctor. He was told he would
stay overnight and was discharged the next day with a prescription for
antibiotics. His condition worsened and I telephoned for a doctor several times
to no avail. Seven days later he fell and was again taken to A&E where he
was observed for a few hours, the consultant in charge insisted that his
infection had cleared up and discharged him. They were unaware that I was
actually at the hospital and had booked for transport home, despite me telling
them on numerous occasions that he lived alone. The consultant made the
decision to discharge without taking any further x-rays of his chest, blood
tests or urine tests. I stood there and asked him if he would take tests to see
if his chest infections had indeed cleared and he said there was no need, he
knew it had. Two days later, another fall and once again taken to A&E by
ambulance where he was eventually admitted for more observation. Within hours
of being admitted his condition worsened to such a level he was completely
delirious and remains so three days later. He still has not seen the consultant
that is supposed to be deciding on his treatment or diagnosis. I too noticed
during our time in A&E there were staff that were standing around seemingly
with nothing to do, not just a few of them but a lot. There was one member of
staff that stood around and did not appear to have a clue about patient
treatment. He did not seem to liaise with any other staff and just kept asking
me questions about my father's condition and treatment but rather disturbingly
didn't understand what I was saying, but insisted that I tell him as he was 'in
charge' of my father's care. When I asked him what he was planning to do in
that capacity he walked away. He did nothing for my father or any other patient
as far as I could see, but just wandered up and down the cubicles. I have found
it very difficult to speak to anyone that appears to know, or is able to,
retain any information written down or spoken to them about my father's
previous or current condition. Indeed when telephoned today we were told that
he had been moved to another room, only to find when we arrived that he was in
the same place. I can only assume the person on the telephone was talking about
the wrong patient. I am furious that an elderly gentlemen suffering with
pneumonia and other infections was almost sent home on no less than three
occasions in a week. I am disgusted that there are so many staff standing
around that appear indifferent to what is going on around them and are, most
certainly, not busy. I have today rescued another patient from falling out of a
chair whilst there were many members of the nursing team sat at the main desk.
I have witnessed elderly patients being ignored when calling out. Today a
patient was assisted to the toilet and promptly forgotten about for almost an
hour. I am also afraid to complain or make a fuss at the actual ward where my
father is currently for fear it might affect the treatment he is receiving.
This is truly a horrific experience and I am afraid to leave at the end of each
day.
==============//===============
Neil Harris
(a don’t stop till you drop production)
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