Hi
We need help, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about a months ago he is 58 , the other week a psychiatrist cam to see him spent about 15 minutes with him and decided she could not say for certain as could be AD or a something else. She later decided could be a pseudodementia and wanted to take him to Runwell hospital for assessment which would take 6 weeks. We were against this idea for many reasons, mainly his weight loss. When she came the other week she said the assessment would take 6-8 weeks. It has been agreed that he need 24 hour care but he cant be placed anywhere until she makes her decision on what he has. She told us he could be placed without her decision as he need the care and he could be seen at a different place as a day assessment.
After our meeting with the social worker at the hospital it seemed that this was not going to be a problem as his doctor opinion was that he had AD and he would be needing 24 hour care no matter what. Then yesterday we were told things could not go ahead as they needed a diagnosis to be able to place him because of the difference in opinion of the doctors. Runwell was again mention and we said we were not happy for him to go there we discussed bring him home but because he need 24hr care this would make us ill.
The social worker stated that he could be placed in Runwell without our permission, i asked if that would mean sectioning him she said no they could do this under the mental capability act but agreed with us that we should have the second opinion that we had asked for some time ago.
Today some doctors came round to discuss his discharge. He stated that he would not stay in hospital anymore due to risk of infections (he has been in there for about 3 months now without any complications) and that he could not come home as he though we could not look after him as he needs 24hr supervision and he cant be place in a home without this assessment so he was transfering him to Runwell as this was in his best interests. He said it did not matter that it was against out wishes he could do this!
We asked about the fact we have not got our second opinion and with this would mean he would not have to go to runwell - his reply you will get that in runwell.
It is clear they want him out of their ward.
Runwell is far out and at the moment we can visit everyday but this is going to be difficult with the distance we will have to travel so will be seeing less of us also with his confusion we are concerned about how the move will affect him.
What rights does dad have and where do we stand in all of this
Sorry for going on a bit, but we just dont know where to go from here.
Karen
We need help, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about a months ago he is 58 , the other week a psychiatrist cam to see him spent about 15 minutes with him and decided she could not say for certain as could be AD or a something else. She later decided could be a pseudodementia and wanted to take him to Runwell hospital for assessment which would take 6 weeks. We were against this idea for many reasons, mainly his weight loss. When she came the other week she said the assessment would take 6-8 weeks. It has been agreed that he need 24 hour care but he cant be placed anywhere until she makes her decision on what he has. She told us he could be placed without her decision as he need the care and he could be seen at a different place as a day assessment.
After our meeting with the social worker at the hospital it seemed that this was not going to be a problem as his doctor opinion was that he had AD and he would be needing 24 hour care no matter what. Then yesterday we were told things could not go ahead as they needed a diagnosis to be able to place him because of the difference in opinion of the doctors. Runwell was again mention and we said we were not happy for him to go there we discussed bring him home but because he need 24hr care this would make us ill.
The social worker stated that he could be placed in Runwell without our permission, i asked if that would mean sectioning him she said no they could do this under the mental capability act but agreed with us that we should have the second opinion that we had asked for some time ago.
Today some doctors came round to discuss his discharge. He stated that he would not stay in hospital anymore due to risk of infections (he has been in there for about 3 months now without any complications) and that he could not come home as he though we could not look after him as he needs 24hr supervision and he cant be place in a home without this assessment so he was transfering him to Runwell as this was in his best interests. He said it did not matter that it was against out wishes he could do this!
We asked about the fact we have not got our second opinion and with this would mean he would not have to go to runwell - his reply you will get that in runwell.
It is clear they want him out of their ward.
Runwell is far out and at the moment we can visit everyday but this is going to be difficult with the distance we will have to travel so will be seeing less of us also with his confusion we are concerned about how the move will affect him.
What rights does dad have and where do we stand in all of this
Sorry for going on a bit, but we just dont know where to go from here.
Karen