Further to my previous posts about the CH sending mum to hospital on every occasion, I agreed an EHCP with the Nurse Practitioner at the GP surgery and with the CH, stipulating that mum would only be transferred to hospital in the event of a bleed or fracture, and that even in the event of a total collapse she would be kept at the home and the GP or Out of Hours Service would be contacted in the first instance. Mum also has a DNR notice and a Living Will.
At 4.30am on Thursday morning staff at the CH noticed that mum had a "rattling" chest and that her lips were pale, and immediately called an emergency ambulance. By the time we got to hospital 40 minutes later, she had had an IV line inserted, steroids, antibiotics, Furosemide, chest X-ray and oxygen. Following discussions with the A&E registrar, and in view of the EHCP, DNR and LW all treatment was stopped. However they said she was too poorly to be taken back to the Care Home, and that in all probability the CH would only send her back into hospital. I had to accept the only option available which was to allow mum to be transferred to the Palliative Care Unit - something she and we did not want to happen.
One member of the CH staff said that they didn't know mum had an EHCP (clearly shown at the front of her Care Plan), another said that as the OOH service takes up to 4 hours to attend, they had no option but to send for an ambulance in an emergency.
Obviously it's very doubtful mum will come out of the PCU, and I have to say it's a lovely ward and all the staff there seem to be very caring and supportive, but I am very upset that having tried to put everything in place to prevent this happening, the CH has ignored all our wishes. Just wanted to warn others who might put their faith in an EHCP and DNR, and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.
At 4.30am on Thursday morning staff at the CH noticed that mum had a "rattling" chest and that her lips were pale, and immediately called an emergency ambulance. By the time we got to hospital 40 minutes later, she had had an IV line inserted, steroids, antibiotics, Furosemide, chest X-ray and oxygen. Following discussions with the A&E registrar, and in view of the EHCP, DNR and LW all treatment was stopped. However they said she was too poorly to be taken back to the Care Home, and that in all probability the CH would only send her back into hospital. I had to accept the only option available which was to allow mum to be transferred to the Palliative Care Unit - something she and we did not want to happen.
One member of the CH staff said that they didn't know mum had an EHCP (clearly shown at the front of her Care Plan), another said that as the OOH service takes up to 4 hours to attend, they had no option but to send for an ambulance in an emergency.
Obviously it's very doubtful mum will come out of the PCU, and I have to say it's a lovely ward and all the staff there seem to be very caring and supportive, but I am very upset that having tried to put everything in place to prevent this happening, the CH has ignored all our wishes. Just wanted to warn others who might put their faith in an EHCP and DNR, and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.