"Unsatisfactory discharge process"

In Jan 2023 I was admitted to Wythenshawe  hospital  for a sudden increase in pain from a previously diagnosed pelvic injury.  The treatment I received was excellent,  After an MRI scan several broken vertebra were detected.

My pain relief was reviewed and adjusted, with good effective results.  A consultant clearly explained that no hospital treatment other than pain relief was available, which would allow me to function until nature healed the bones.

I was then diagnosed with osteoporosis and future treatment would be arranged.  The hospital then carried out comprehensive assessment of my ability to care for myself at home. I was told  I was fully  competent and safe and sufficiently mobile with aid of walking frame for independent living and my premises were safe and fit for purpose.

I was then told I would be discharged home.  Shortly afterwards two porters arrived with wheelchair and I was taken to discharge lounge.  All my belongings were assembled and checked correct, and I  was given supply of new pain relief prescription and directed to comfortable chair and given hot drink to await ambulance. I felt my treatment up to this point was excellent.

After a short wait an ambulance driver called for me and I was taken to ambulance by  wheelchair and transferred to seat in ambulance.  I expected to be driven home a short distance about 3 miles.  I was surprised to to be driven a much shorter distance and stopped in front of a large building with sign over Opal house.  I had never head of this but assumed it was a secondary ambulance waiting area.  I was wheeled inside  past a reception desk although none of the staff spoke to me I was wheeled into a large lounge area and deposited in a rather uncomfortable chair at the rear. The ambulance man then left.   I had no walking frame so I was unable to move from that spot. 

After a wait of around 2 hours no one had attempted in any way to communicate with me other than catering assistant who offered hot drink. I had never before heard of Opal house with no idea at all of its function, or why I had been taken there.  I understood that I had been formally discharged from Wythenshaw hospital to be taken home. 

I eventually managed to attract the attention of someone in a nurses uniform,  I enquired where was I and why, and when was my ambulance coming to take me home. They replied that I was at opal house for assessment. In further conversation I was told opal house was an assessment centre and had no direct connection to wWthenshaw hospital.   Assessment was expected to take a week or more.

I was devastated at this and explained I had been fully assessed as safe for discharge home, and had been told by both a hospital consultant and a doctor that I was to be discharged directly home.  There was never any mention of any sort of further assessment centre,  or any sort of consultation,  I did not know such an establishment existed.  I said I wanted to leave and be taken home.  

I was then told I could not leave and was cautioned not to attempt this as access door was locked and would not be unlocked for me.  I then realised that I had been transferred without my knowledge or permission to some sort of unknown assessment centre, and I was now behind locked doors. 

 I repeated my desire to leave and be taken home immediately.  The nurse then left, and some time later I was approached by another nurse in a different uniform which I assumed meant they were some kind of supervisor.  They asked for confirmation that I wanted to leave which I confirmed. They then stated that I was self discharging and the NHS was  had no further duty of care, nor would an ambulance be provided.  However, as a courtesy, a taxi would be provided to take me home. 

I was then completely confused, how could I self discharge from an organisation which a few minutes ago did not know existed nor had I completed or consented  to any form of admission procedure? 

Some 2 hours later with no sign of promised taxi I telephoned my son who was approaching end of his work shift, and asked him to collect me.  When my son arrived I was again told I could not leave as the shift was changing - I did not see how this was relevant to allowing me to go.  Some time later I was told I could go.  I again protested that a small car was not suitable transportation for patient with severe pelvic and spinal injuries  I also expressed my concern at anticipated difficulty of transfer from car to house in the dark with plummeting below freezing temperature a snow and ice covered sloping driveway. this was an obvious significant safety hazard for me.  The reply was the NHS no longer had any duty of care and that no ambulance would be provided. 

I then transferred myself with some difficulty from wheelchair to car and was driven slowly home. I was initially optimistic of my ability to walk with aid of frame from car to house with support from my son, the distance was a little less than that negotiated in hospital assessments. However the conditions were very different I was very very cold in flimsy hospital pyjamas. Just over half way I became exhausted and my legs started to buckle.  My son was unable to prevent me falling to ground.  My son then obtained assistance from neighbours who managed to get me into my living room. Probable damage from this fall has yet to be fully assessed.