"I am concerned and upset"

My elderly mother-in-law was discharged from the QEUH recently with a care package in place, of 4 visits per day from East Renfrewshire Council.

The care in the hospital has been excellent and the staff were clear that as she lives on her own she would only be discharged once a package of care was in place.  The Care Package was supposed to start with a tea time visit followed by a bedtime visit to make sure she took her tablet and then a morning visit again including taking her tablets.  However despite waiting, no carer arrived. 

I rang the ward she was discharged from and they kindly contacted the Council who gave her the details of the care company they have given the job to.  She tried to ring them but there was no answer.

(My mother-in-law was also discharged recently with a care package in place and something similar happened.  Unfortunately she went back into hospital the same day so it went no further.)

I am concerned and upset.  The hospital kept her in until they knew her medication was balanced.  The timing and taking of the drugs has been put at risk by the absence of carers. 

We were fortunately available to give her the drugs but that won't always be the case.