As some of you may know my Dad (83) is in the mid stages and still living at home with my Mum.
Last Thursday she had difficulty waking him and fearing he was having another stroke called the GP. The GP was unhappy with his condition and arranged for him to be taken to the local hospital by ambulance.
It seemed there were 2 possibilities; either a TIA or an infection, most likely a UTI. My Dad also has a patch on his leg which has been itchy for some time and on which he had had a biopsy earlier in the week. This wound was looking a bit inflamed and we brought it to the attention of the doctors.
He was admitted to a medical ward and prescribed antibiotics. They were unable to get a urine sample until Friday afternoon. He was very sleepy most of Friday but by Saturday had perked up and on Sunday there seemed to be very little wrong with him physically. In fact we thought he was less confused.
Of course it being a weekend, and a Bank Holiday weekend at that, there were no tests results and we were told he couldn’t be discharged until they had the results of the tests and he had finished the antibiotics.
On Tuesday we fully expected him to be discharged. The result of the tests showed no UTI so the sister said it rather looked as though the biopsy wound had been the cause. The antibiotics were stopped on Tuesday but we were told that the doctor was refusing to discharge him until he had the result of the biopsy.
In retrospect we should have kicked up a fuss. Yesterday, Wednesday, he wasn’t quite as well and last night the nurse enquired at the end of visiting if he was incontinent at home. NO! Because he is now. This afternoon he slept all through visiting and we were told that they think he has a UTI.
My mum asked for a meeting with the doctor whom we have never seen in the whole time since he was admitted and was told ‘No point until we have the result of the urine test which we can’t do as he’s incontinent now’.
We are mad.
I have written a letter of complaint to the Doctor, faxed a copy to Patient Relations (aka PALS) and am sending a copy to the GP. This could have been avoided.
My main concerns are when was the incontinence noticed and what have they done about it? Does anyone know if they have incontinence nurses in hospitals or just in the community? Have they been washing my Dad on a regular basis? If he is incontinent and not being washed it’s no wonder he’s developed a UTI.
I prepared this post earlier before evening visiting. I’m pleased to say my Dad was much more alert and coherent (although in incontinence pads still).
We saw no signs of an infection (temperature normal, no more confusion than usual) other than him being in pads. My mum took him off to the toilet to try and get him to give a sample and the nurse tried to help. No luck. The nurse said he’ll just have to tell us when he needs to go.
Any ideas on how to get a sample from someone in pads? I can’t believe this is the same man I took to the Rugby 2 weeks ago and he took himself off to the toilet at half time.
Sorry for the rant
Last Thursday she had difficulty waking him and fearing he was having another stroke called the GP. The GP was unhappy with his condition and arranged for him to be taken to the local hospital by ambulance.
It seemed there were 2 possibilities; either a TIA or an infection, most likely a UTI. My Dad also has a patch on his leg which has been itchy for some time and on which he had had a biopsy earlier in the week. This wound was looking a bit inflamed and we brought it to the attention of the doctors.
He was admitted to a medical ward and prescribed antibiotics. They were unable to get a urine sample until Friday afternoon. He was very sleepy most of Friday but by Saturday had perked up and on Sunday there seemed to be very little wrong with him physically. In fact we thought he was less confused.
Of course it being a weekend, and a Bank Holiday weekend at that, there were no tests results and we were told he couldn’t be discharged until they had the results of the tests and he had finished the antibiotics.
On Tuesday we fully expected him to be discharged. The result of the tests showed no UTI so the sister said it rather looked as though the biopsy wound had been the cause. The antibiotics were stopped on Tuesday but we were told that the doctor was refusing to discharge him until he had the result of the biopsy.
In retrospect we should have kicked up a fuss. Yesterday, Wednesday, he wasn’t quite as well and last night the nurse enquired at the end of visiting if he was incontinent at home. NO! Because he is now. This afternoon he slept all through visiting and we were told that they think he has a UTI.
My mum asked for a meeting with the doctor whom we have never seen in the whole time since he was admitted and was told ‘No point until we have the result of the urine test which we can’t do as he’s incontinent now’.
We are mad.
I have written a letter of complaint to the Doctor, faxed a copy to Patient Relations (aka PALS) and am sending a copy to the GP. This could have been avoided.
My main concerns are when was the incontinence noticed and what have they done about it? Does anyone know if they have incontinence nurses in hospitals or just in the community? Have they been washing my Dad on a regular basis? If he is incontinent and not being washed it’s no wonder he’s developed a UTI.
I prepared this post earlier before evening visiting. I’m pleased to say my Dad was much more alert and coherent (although in incontinence pads still).
We saw no signs of an infection (temperature normal, no more confusion than usual) other than him being in pads. My mum took him off to the toilet to try and get him to give a sample and the nurse tried to help. No luck. The nurse said he’ll just have to tell us when he needs to go.
Any ideas on how to get a sample from someone in pads? I can’t believe this is the same man I took to the Rugby 2 weeks ago and he took himself off to the toilet at half time.
Sorry for the rant