"Busy ward, busy time, discharge planning?"

My 93 year old mother was admitted to A&E at BGH earlier this year - with pneumonia.

The next day she was admitted to Ward 6. It was a busy time with flu, and when I tried to go on to the ward with mum as she was admitted from A&E a nurse swept down on me and said I couldn’t come in because I had flu. I did have an obvious cold/sinusitis.

On next day I phoned in and was told there wasn’t much improvement.

The next day in the morning I phoned in and was told there wasn’t much improvement.

That afternoon though a doctor called me. He said there had been a bit of an improvement and mum could maybe go home next day. I said , Ah you need the bed. We had a fairly nice light hearted chat about the NHS. But that is great if mum is improving.

Anyway the doctor says mum is a bit better but needs a bit extra support so they are going to refer her to Hospital to Home. I ask if he can tell me about Hospital to home because we had the service for my late dad and it was very disappointing, that is , it was not what my dad needed. He says he will find out and call me back.

He calls me back. The thing is, he says, your mum needs oxygen so can you set that up – we can give you the oxygen it is like a medium suitcase so you might need a hand to get it down to the front door. I say what about the other end?

He says they have instructions for this and it is quite straightforward. I say so if I can read I can set it up. Yes he says. I am amused given my ability to read still doesn’t mean I can bake.

I ponder this. I call my friend a DN in another health board. This doesn’t sound right she says , me taking home a suitcase of oxygen which I then set up. How can my mum move with oxygen attached– her mobility is poor at the best of times. I call the ward that evening. I speak to a nurse who says they don’t give out oxygen like that and asks me to call in the morning to speak to the Consultant.

Before I can call the Consultant, a different doctor calls me in the morning. The physio has seen my mum and she is fit for home he says. I say really ? And what about the oxygen– he tells me her sats are normal, I say since when – since 3pm yesterday he says (which was about when the other doctor was calling me telling me she needed oxygen). Anyway this doctor now says that there is no need for Hospital at home or oxygen.

I take him at his word.

I come in to pick mum up. She is still in isolation ( there’s flu about, I do understand that the ward needs that room) she is lying on her bed looking ill. The porter picks her up and puts her in the wheelchair and we head downstairs.

It was very very difficult to get mum out of the car and into the house. Hospital at Home phone despite me being told that we don’t need them, phone and ask what medication my mum is on. They come 2 or 3 times over the next couple of days. They say they aren’t really for people like my mum.

 Mum was then readmitted to Ward 6.

We were so disappointed with what my mum experienced with discharge. It does feel a bit like the medical staff were not prioritising the needs of the patient who was with them and ill  - and who ended up more ill and was readmitted just over 48 hours later. 

My parents have had many many dealings with BGH over the years and have had some outstanding care and compassion. However, I have observed many times that the discharge planning seems haphazard, making the patient more at risk, in my experience.