You lot are fantastic!
I don't really know what to say about Dad. I spent this afternoon with him and, as advised on TP, then my cousin went in, and then my brother. He seemed much perkier. Physically failing, but he was so sweet when we kissed him goodbye. Told Mum he liked kissing her! She said he hadn't said that for 50 years. Told my daughter he loved her.
The hospital is a joke. A brand new one, just across the road from the old pig-sty. Dad was soaking wet. Not just his pad, but it had soaked right up his back and all over his sheets and blanket. We asked twice for him to be changed. The ladies who eventually cared for him were absolutely lovely. I asked one of them if they checked the pads of their incontinient patients regularly - she (bless her, she was so nice with Dad) said they were short staffed. Also told me that some of the staff there 'couldn't be ********'. Said so much of the work fell to so few.
Dad has a cut from a fall at home last week. His plaster was dirty. We relaced it and it started bleeding badly. We asked if he could have a dressing on it. They said they could if they found the time later. They didn't find the time.
He has a bad chest infection. His drugs that were due at 1pm were given to him at 4pm. Apparently there'd been some kind of mix-up in the pharmacy. Drugs had been sent to A and E instead of his ward.
Why does this happen?
I love my Dad and I just want him clean, cared for and comfortable. Is that too much to ask?
p x
Yesterday, in the Acute Assessment Unit, during all the hours we were with Dad, not one doctor ever entered the room to see him or any of the three other patients.
They did, however, spend a lot of time crowded around the patients' board, discussing how. when, where, they were going to off-load their patients.
I am keeping a record of all of this. I'm usually pretty docile but I am SO CROSS! I will do something. I am determinined to make another family's experience better.
Thanks to you all on TP. You're all a lifesaver.