"Multiple failed discharges and poor care"

I am writing this review in the hopes that we get some support and acknowledgement. I also hope this raises awareness.

My 82-year-old grandmother has had a bit of an awful time of it the last two years. Latterly she has suffered with poor health, having multiple illnesses. She was most recently admitted via A&E in Ninewells with COVID and following an Ultrasound was told that her SMA occlusion had worsened but wasn't the sole cause of her illness. She was admitted under surgical’s card via Ward 7 followed by Ward 8 in Ninewells for acute diverticulitis. Here she was reviewed from the Frailty Team.

This has been my Grandmother’s 4th admission in two years. We made staff aware she wasn't coping, we weren't coping and that we needed more support and a review of medications etc. After one week she was discharged home (3 weeks ago) with anti-emetics and a promise that her GP and Frailty would be in touch to follow her up.

Over the past week she has not eaten, has no appetite, cannot keep food or fluids down and the anti-emetics she has been prescribed are not working. Two lovely district nurses came out to see her 4 days ago and witnessed how unwell she was and said that they were concerned and that they would inform the GP straight away. Still no call.

Last night my grandmother collapsed. She is dehydrated and bed bound through lack of energy, weight loss and lethargy. Paramedics attended the home. They informed us that AMU had declined her admission and that if she was to be admitted it would need to be via her GP and to the Surgical Ward. We cosied her down, paramedics left, we had little sleep but awoken at 8 am prompt in the hopes that her GP would be on the way or at least about to call to offer a home visit.

It's 1pm. I have called the GP twice, she has had no calls, no home visits and remains in bed, feeling sick, with no access to different anti-emetics. I am absolutely disgusted that my grandmother has worked hard all of her life and is being treated this way. I feel that NHS Tayside has failed her in her time of need. To make matters worse I have devoted 15 years of my adult life to the NHS as a nurse. I have sacrificed so much and prioritised patient care and service needs. I am trying to juggle my own family/kids, my ill grandmother, my elderly father and my career. This needs to be sorted.