Text size

Theme

Language

"Being admitted to hospital"

About: Hospital at Home / Hospital at Home Hairmyres University Hospital Hairmyres / Emergency Department

(as a carer),

A family member had an amazing service from the hospital at home team, unfortunately she had to be admitted to hospital following a  blood test result. 

The issue of the care at the Hairmyres Hospital is where my concerns lies. 

From drop off by the ambulance, the care and health of the patient deteriorated rapidly all while being left in a wheelchair. We were told that Accident and Emergency was not responsible for a referral from the Hospital at Home team and we had to just wait for a medical professional to come from the ward.

We were also unclear at this point if the ward knew the patient was in A&E. Once we  raised our concerns (5 hrs later) and that the patient's health was evidently worsening, a cubicle was available and the nurse was unhappy to send the patient to the ward without an A&E  doctor assessing her, by this time the patient was unable to speak, walk and was confused due to already being told she had 2 infections.

Once on ward, it got slightly better but was also not the best experience,  there was no stand for fluids, or a thermometer for basic observations, just a really bad experience all round.

Could I be provided with the process of admittance to hospital from the Hospital at Home team to make sure this doesn't happen again or a change is made to simplify the process for patients. 

Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Mari Ward, Team Leader, North Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership last week
We are preparing to make a change
Mari Ward
Team Leader,
North Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership
Submitted on 23/05/2025 at 10:58
Published on Care Opinion at 11:03


picture of Mari Ward

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience via care opinion. I'm sorry to hear there has been a breakdown in communication on transfer of care between hospital at home and the medical receiving team.

In order for us to explore your concerns further could I ask for you to contact our patient affairs team who will be able to investigate further a provide a personal response. Their email address is below.

patientaffairs@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

Many thanks

Mari

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Craig Eden, Improvement Advisor, Quality Directorate, NHS Lanarkshire last week
Craig Eden
Improvement Advisor, Quality Directorate,
NHS Lanarkshire

This person works pan Lanarkshire on areas of improvement

Submitted on 23/05/2025 at 17:14
Published on Care Opinion at 17:14


Hi leomb94,

Thank you for sharing your feedback and as Mari has provided above could you please contact our Patient Affairs team for us to explore your concerns further.

patientaffairs@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

Kind Regards,

Craig

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Lise Axford, Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire last week
Lise Axford
Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire
Submitted on 23/05/2025 at 18:28
Published on Care Opinion at 18:28


picture of Lise Axford

Dear leomb94

Thank you for detailing your concerns regarding the care received following a referral from the Hospital at Home service. I am sorry to read that communication was poor and that your family member had a long wait in a wheel chair.

There is a process for patients to be referred from Hospital at Home directly to the care of an inpatient speciality team. However, as the hospital continues to experience significant pressures in relation to available beds, it is often necessary for patients to be admitted and assessed via the Emergency department. This assessment remains the responsibility of the inpatient speciality team and again I apologise that there was a

It is clear from your feedback that your family member experienced a long delay to assessment and that staff did not fully explain what was happening. I would also expect staff to have access to appropriate equipment on the ward. This is not the standard of care that we strive to provide and I offer my sincere apologies to you and of course your family member.

As Mari suggests, once we have detailed information, we can fully review exactly what has happened so that we can make improvements for future patients.

I hope to hear from you.

Kind regards

Lise

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by leomb94 (a carer)

Hello - Thank you for your responses, It is encouraging to see that changes could be made to this process, as suggested, I will now contact patient services. Unfortunately we are still experiencing difficulties in the hospital which are causing extreme distress to the patient, that may be another story....

Response from Lise Axford, Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 6 days ago
Lise Axford
Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire
Submitted on 27/05/2025 at 12:09
Published on Care Opinion at 12:09


picture of Lise Axford

Dear leomb94

Thank you for responding. As soon as patient affairs pass on the relevant details then I will review what has happened. If you have concerns regarding hospital care, this will also be looked into and we can link with your family member and their relatives.

Lise

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k