"Lack of care for my mother"

My mother’s first visit was to a doctor who told her it was nothing to worry about and it was more than likely a back issue. She was sharply dismissed on two occasions the other being in A&E where she was told to see a chiropractor for her back and mobility issues!

She then visited Exeter A&E by ambulance. Upon returning to A&E with myself and my sister I expressed my concerns about how my mother was unable to walk having been transferred out of the house via chair due to falling down the stairs when assisted due to her lack of balance with the ambulance crew. There was no possible way she could be sent home.

Upon admission, she was seen by a couple of consultants who said it was due to canal stenosis in the cervical spine and would need an operation through her neck to help with this mobility issue. Although they informed us she may never be able to walk again if this was the case. A risk we weren’t willing to take without further investigation for another issue.

I've taken the time to read over my Mum's medical notes and noticed an entry saying that she was in her late fifties female who presented on late April with Guillan Barre Syndrome if this was the case why wasn't something said sooner and why wasn't this the diagnostics from the get-go?

I was very adamant this wasn’t the best thing for my mum in the current circumstances. Within two days her face became paralysed on one side. When I raised this issue with a nurse she said it was nothing to worry about and was more than likely Bell’s palsy and they didn’t seem to think there was a change in her face.

I questioned the coincidence and likelihood of having two different issues at the same time. Which led me to believe that it was more likely to be GBS. This concern was dismissed on various occasions being told it wasn’t possible as my mother “wasn’t ill enough” although she was put on oxygen for the duration of her stay due to breathing issues.

It took many conversations and developing issues for me to be listened to. I had to advocate for my mum due to her lack of awareness and inability to communicate properly. Imagine someone not having this support system in place. Leaving them helpless.

I was shocked to have visited my mother on one particular day to find her choking on soup. Where an HCA suggested she shouldn’t have it again and to choose something else on the menu. My issue was if she couldn’t eat soup what could she eat? Again expressing my concerns she was given thickened fluids. Shocked I even had to suggest such a thing when I believe there are qualified staff on shift who should be assessing these things. I felt every time I visited Mum I was questioning things and looking for answers.

There were a few staff members who were amazing during my mum's stay on Durbin - although I feel if my first concern was listened to on that ward we’d have been so much further forward with her recovery.

I felt as a family we did a lot for my mother while she was in hospital (and would completely do this again if needed) going in most days to ensure she’s been washed and helping her clean after toileting as she was left on many occasions in her faces. If this is happening to my mother how many other people was this happening to?!

After a whole month, someone finally listened to me and tested Mum for GBS - with the results being positive!

It took a whole month for us to be listened to and I truly believe that If we had been listened to sooner, then treatment could have been sorted sooner and the correct support put in place sooner! The right medication was administered finally and slow improvements were made. Again I truly believe that the long-term impact this illness has had on my mum has negatively impacted her recovery.

Once my mother was transferred to Mardon Rehab she was cared for amazingly and we can’t fault them.