"Missed giving him his correct medication"

My dad is in his 80s and felt so unwell he asked me to take him to hospital. He was admitted to the Vale Of Leven Hospital and stayed for four nights. He was given antibiotics and also put on a nebuliser. Within two days he started to improve and felt better. The nurses looked after my dad well.

I was pleased how well my dad was improving but then on his third day I realised he was not receiving his medication for his asthma which he would normally take every night. I had taken my dad's own medication in to ensure he was getting it. I discussed this with a nurse who reported that my dad was not getting this at night. His medication was not in his bag so I asked the nurse to check the medication drawer and it was in there. I was told by the nurse they could not give this to my dad as it would need to be approved by a doctor and there were no doctors available until the next morning. Considering why my dad had been admitted to hospital I was angry that they had missed giving him his correct medication. The nurse advised they would highlight this to the doctor in the morning, which I felt was not good enough.

When I went to visit my dad on the third day, they had not long finished eating their dinner. I asked my dad what he had and he said he was meant to have chicken tikka and rice but they had ran out of rice so was only given the tikka. I was angry. I do not believe that is a proper meal for someone who is in hospital and trying to get better and stronger.  He also said that he had not had a cup of tea since lunchtime. Another patient's relative asked a nurse if the patients could get a cup of tea as they were not given their afternoon cup of tea or one after their dinner. The nurse couldn't answer why they hadn't got them but said that they were all busy and they would see what they could do. My dad said he got a cup of tea later that night. Again, I don't feel this is good enough.

Fortunately my dad was able to get home the following day and I could ensure he had adequate food and drink at home.