"Poor quality of care"

My relative was an inpatient at Stonehouse Hospital. She was admitted to Lockhart Unit for potential rehab after sustaining an injury due to a fall.

She has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and does not have capacity to make informed choices.

Since her admission over a number of weeks ago the standard of care that I have personally witnessed has been nothing but appalling.

I witnessed first hand, the lack of knowledge staff have in regards to stress and distress behaviours, when supporting someone with Alzheimers. For an elderly vulnerable lady to be left sitting in her own urine/faeces, for what I expect was over 4 hours or longer is disgraceful.

She had never been supported with oral hygiene since her admission.

She had never been supported to bathe. For staff to comment that they need to hold her wrists and are scared they will break them whilst supporting with a body wash, feels abusive.  

Medication issues:  Given drugs which were not supposed to be administered and by Stonehouse staffs admission this happened to several patients on the ward. Why? Because it was a bank nurse.

Mobility: she was given a zimmer frame to mobilise, granted she would not recall this was there as an aid. Family were encouraging her every time they visited to mobilise safely under supervision, but to be told that they were the reason she fell when  unsupervised and not even in attendance leaves us in dismay.

Staffing: I fully appreciate the challenges faced by Health and Social Care in recruitment and retention of staff, however to have the majority of staff on a shift as bank nurses/staff: how does this offer patient continuity of care? How can they possibly know when there are changes in someone’s health and well being.

Infection Prevention and Control: Meals are put on to a over bed table which is nothing short of being filthy, yet there seems to be an abundance of domestics walking about with cleaning products.

The following Health and Social Care standards were not upheld within Lockhart unit in our experience.

1: To experience high quality of Care and support that is right for me.

2 I am fully involved in all decisions about my care

3 I have confidence in the people who support and care for me.

4 I have confidence in the organisation providing my care

5 I experience a high quality environment if the organisation provides the premises.

Principles of National Health and Social Care 

Dignity and respect

Compassion

Be included

Responsive care and support

Well-being

These issues have been raised with the ward, and yes there had been an improvement in her care, but what about other patients whose relatives are not able to advocate on their behalf, or not even aware of what is happening on a ward.