Hospital Stay

carol56

Registered User
Mar 5, 2011
5
0
Help
My dad is in hospital with a chest infection. He will not keep his drip in or his oxygen tube in his nose. He is in a small bay with 3 other patients who is upsetting with his wondering. The staff today seem to have given up on Dad. Has any one got any idea how to encourage dad to keep his drip in. I feel I want do train the staff. He is on a medical ward and the nurses have no idea about Dementia. I know he is nearly 88 but I don't want to give up on him.
Carol
 

jasmineflower

Registered User
Aug 27, 2012
335
0
You need to insist that he has better supervision. He shouldn't be left to disrupt the rest of the ward.

When my mother in law was in hospital the ward had to provide a 1:1 HCA because she was agitated, wandering and falling.

could you speak to whoever is in charge or go and complain to the PALS dept?
 

Adcat

Registered User
Jun 15, 2014
287
0
London
http://www.theguardian.com/society/...paign-hospital-visit-norman-lamb-andy-burnham

Hi Carol,

I am so sorry, I dread the day my father is ever hospitalised. You might find the attached link enlightening. Also, Professor June Andrews (dementia specialist, sterling university) advises carers to stay with loved ones because it's well known that dementia suffers don't do so well in hospital.
Quite how possible it is to stay is beyond me. Work full time, no family assistance. Pay eye watering amounts for a private carer.

Complain, complain, complain because those who shout loudest get heard.

Take care
 

Izzy

Volunteer Moderator
Aug 31, 2003
74,001
0
72
Dundee
I'm so sorry to read about your dad. Over a year ago my husband was in the same situation with a chest infection and wouldn't keep drips in or oxygen masks on. The difference is that he was in a medicine for the elderly ward. The staff there did have some understanding of dementia and they had endless patience with him. I was in the fortunate position of being able to spend the days at his bedside. I fought a constant battle with him to prevent him taking them off. Is there any chance that your dad could be moved to a similar kind of ward?

I agree that you need to complain to make sure you dad is treated appropriately for someone who has dementia.
 

carol56

Registered User
Mar 5, 2011
5
0
You need to insist that he has better supervision. He shouldn't be left to disrupt the rest of the ward.

When my mother in law was in hospital the ward had to provide a 1:1 HCA because she was agitated, wandering and falling.

could you speak to whoever is in charge or go and complain to the PALS dept?

He is worse than I have ever seen him. I think we are going to have to ask for a meeting with the ward manager. I asked the staff nurse today about the drips but he had no idea.
 

flossielime

Registered User
May 8, 2014
201
0
Hi

I totally understand your frustration. My dad is in hospital for a broken leg (that he had surgery on) for 5 weeks. He has been in 3 different wards and I have seen the full range of terrible care to the most fantastic care.

It started well in ward 1 that was high dependency, was absolutely awful in the next ward which was a general medical but mostly orthopedic ward, he is now on a dementia ward which is wonderful and he is getting the most amazingly good care.

I would definitely see if there is any possibility of having him transferred to a dementia ward. My dad needs to have one to one care to stop him falling. He has had 4 falls in hospital. The one to one cover was a bit hit and miss so the falls occurred when it was not in place. I spoke to the Matron of the ward and the one to one is now in place all the time and he has not fallen again. So I would try the matron if you get nowhere with ward manager.
 
Talk to staff, the more senior the better, and ask whether the hospital has a Dementia Champion or similar title, whose job is to make sure that patients with dementia get looked after properly. If you're very lucky the hospital will have a dedicated ward or unit for dementia patients. Try PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) if you don't get anywhere: they're there to help patients and their families in their dealings with the hospital. See "What is PALS" here: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1082.aspx?CategoryID=68

I had just one night in hospital with Mother at the end of her life, spent the whole night sitting awake with her, telling her not to take off the oxygen mask - she kept saying it was noisy and she couldn't sleep, I kept pointing out that oxygen was more important than sleep right then. I don't know how we'd have coped if it had gone on for multiple days and nights: she died, very peacefully, the next day, a lovely quiet death at 97 (apparently a "silent heart attack" a fortnight before).

Be an assertive next-of-kin: the NHS is there to look after people, so please keep on asking and demanding that your father gets the attention he needs. Good luck.
 

Essie

Registered User
Feb 11, 2015
563
0
Hi Carol56, I just wanted to reiterate what Adcat said really, my MIL, a nurse/matron all her working life, always says if you want something from the NHS you have to shout, shout more and keep on shouting till you get it. Ask, talk, push and pursue, exhausting but maybe less so than constantly worrying about your poor Dad.

Good luck.
 

Kitch

Registered User
Mar 8, 2015
2
0
Hospital stay.

My Dad has just come home from a 4 week stay in hospital . He had the same problem kept taking the cannula out on a daily basis . The only time it stayed in for a longer length was if the Nurses bandaged it over or put a tube grip over it . Hope this helps .
 

Polly1945

Registered User
Oct 24, 2012
261
0
Hereford
dear carol56

I feel so sorry for you and your dear dad. My mum (98) has been in hospital twice in the past 2 yrs and she was terrified. Unless there is a special dementia ward, it certainly isn't the best place for dementia sufferers.

We had to phone the PALS team at the hospital and they were really helpful. Please do make a nuisance of yourself - the squeakiest door gets the most oil! It seems to be the only way :(

Pauline
x
 

starryuk

Registered User
Nov 8, 2012
1,323
0
The only time it stayed in for a longer length was if the Nurses bandaged it over or put a tube grip over it .

Yes, that is what they did for my mum. At one point they resorted to putting it in on her leg, down near the ankle where she couldn't get at it.

She had several visits to hospitals and was always put in an 'elderly' ward, with a blue wristband which signified dementia and which had one member of staff in the ward at all times.

Some patients had 1:1 'minders'. I definitely think you should start pushing for a more suitable ward.
 

carol56

Registered User
Mar 5, 2011
5
0
Yes, that is what they did for my mum. At one point they resorted to putting it in on her leg, down near the ankle where she couldn't get at it.

She had several visits to hospitals and was always put in an 'elderly' ward, with a blue wristband which signified dementia and which had one member of staff in the ward at all times.

Some patients had 1:1 'minders'. I definitely think you should start pushing for a more suitable ward.

We have just battled with Social Services and the CQC. Now the Hospital. What do people do who do not have family?. Thank you for all your reply's it helps to know we are not on our own.
Carol
 

Adcat

Registered User
Jun 15, 2014
287
0
London
We have just battled with Social Services and the CQC. Now the Hospital. What do people do who do not have family?. Thank you for all your reply's it helps to know we are not on our own.
Carol

Sadly Carol, they are forgotten about. It's truly shocking.
 

Angela T

Registered User
Jul 13, 2014
187
0
France
Yes, it is.

I found myself thinking exactly the same thing, when I was trying to get info about my mother, or help for my mother etc... during her stay in hospital.

If I had not been there fighting for her best interests, she would have been neglected...

It really is SO sad!
 

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