"Heroes who swooped in and caught us falling"

I want to tell you about my experience following my Dad's recent discharge from hospital.  

My Dad is very frail and was discharged from hospital (perhaps too soon) and was deteriorating rapidly.  We had received a letter for my Dad to attend outpatients at the Larkfield Unit to see Dr Martin.  My Dad is housebound now and that journey was either going to be extremely difficult and overwhelming for him or simply not possible.

I called Dr Martin's secretary who was so friendly and empathetic and advised me that she would be able to send out a nurse who works alongside Dr Martin to review my Dad.  

In the same week Kay (an Advanced Nurse specialising in working with elderly) came to meet my Dad and I at home.

The help and support that Kay has put in place for us has been invaluable.  She is the heart of an essential community support service that joins all the dots to make sure the elderly are looked after within our community and avoiding unnecessary and distressing admissions to hospital. Kay supported us with making sure the right medication was in place should Dad deteriorate, connected a pharmacist to review existing meds, engaged Community Nurses to support Dad, assessed Dad and his needs and ensured bloods were taken and followed up for appropriate action.  She also connected us to hospice nurses.

In our time of need she and her team were everything we needed.  

This service has potentially saved the NHS a lot of money by stopping what was looking like another lengthy hospital admission.  She has taken our stress as a family away and we cannot thank her enough.  Through Kay and her team's care my Dad is doing better at home, is comfortable and has retained his comfort and dignity.

I hope directors read these types of experiences and make sure these services continue to be supported.

Kay and Team - you are heroes who swooped in and caught us falling - thank you so much for everything.