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My Granmothers care after she had died

Posted By Kate8953

"My Granmothers care after she had died"

About: Crieff Community Hospital / Community In-Patient Wards

(as a relative),

My Grandmother was in crieff Community hospital for several months with a infection in her legs and her mobility suffered badly but her care was just amazing by the nurses and doctors during that time. She then got really ill and started to refuse liquids and food and was advised she was now in palliative care we were all heartbroken. I couldn't fault the care but a few things really annoyed me. My gran would have her teeth in and they would be that stuck to her mouth that I witnessed a nurse having to use that much force to release them her whole mouth was bleeding and she was in discomfort but I would go back in the next day and they were back in even though she was nil by mouth and I would be told oh well after we do the daily washes we put them back in which I find ridiculous I had explained my gran only put them in for eating and visitors so after a few days of telling them it was stopped . 

I was there when my gran took her last breathe and after the doctor came in to do the checks a nurse came straight in and said OK will we pack your grans stuff up. I was in such an emotional state I just started packing with them while my gran lay on the bed and the bags were put on her legs and it was just horrendous.

When you go through something like that your brain doesn't know whats happening til later.  They then said the funeral director likes the teeth to be back in which she then went ahead which made my gran look like she was screaming it was horrible to see. For another family I wouldn't want them to go through what I did and see that. The staff should of waited til we were gone and finished with our goodbyes to my gran not while we were in the room. We could of picked up her stuff the next day not while my gran was there uncovered.

I don't want this to take away what the nurses do because they do an amazing job but maybe after death care for families and for patient's needs to be updated. I am still traumatised by this experience and I will never get that time back with her or forget what happened.  I hope for the next family it won't be so disturbing and abit more peaceful. 

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Responses

Response from Craig Paterson, Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership 6 months ago
Craig Paterson
Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership

Submitted on 31/10/2023 at 16:27
Published on Care Opinion at 20:43

Thank you for your feedback regarding your Grandmother’s care whilst she was an inpatient in Crieff Community Hospital, both prior to, and after her sad passing.

Please accept my condolences and my sincere apologies for the events which have led you to highlight your concerns on Care Opinion. The issues you raised are far from the standards any patient or patient’s loved one should expect, and they are, from my point of view as the Senior Charge Nurse holding overall responsibility for patient care, completely unacceptable.

Please be assured that the issues you have raised will be addressed and used to improve our practice. As a team, we will endeavour to make sure that similar concerns to yours are not repeated in the future.

If you wish to discuss this situation further, please do not hesitate to contact me by phoning 01764 651773.

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Response from Craig Paterson, Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership 3 months ago
Craig Paterson
Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership

Submitted on 08/01/2024 at 12:40
Published on Care Opinion at 12:50

Dear Kate8953

Following receipt of your story, we discussed the situation as a team. We agreed that the situation could have been handled more appropriately and identified learning from the concerns. We agreed that the passing of a loved one is an incredibly difficult time, therefore more consideration should be taken to the needs of the deceased and their family. We also agreed that it is important to be cognisant of compassion, timings and sensitivities. It is also important to offer as much support as we can to families during these times, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a loved one's passing.

Kindest regards

Craig

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