My sister was admitted to Ward A11 with pneumonia and received excellent care. I live in South Africa and as was very grateful for the feedback from her doctor when I phoned, who promised to involve OT, Physio and Social Services to carefully assess her situation before she was discharged. I was relieved to be told that there would be an assessment of her home situation and that commodes etc would be provided. My sister lives alone and I believe to be vulnerable. I was promised during my second phone call when I spoke to the Administrator on the ward, that carers would be available to help her wash and dress and in fact it was reiterated once more that she would not be discharged until a home assessment had been completed. None of the promises were kept, she was discharged on New Years day, with a walker, no commode. no home assessment, where they would have clearly seen she was unable to climb her very steep stairs to the bathroom. She was unable to leave the house to buy any milk or food and fell whilst trying to fill a hot water bottle. When I was eventually alerted to her situation, she had run out of gas and was sitting wrapped in a duvet to keep warm, was dehydrated and had had no other alternative than to empty a jug with urine down the kitchen sink. I understand that the services are stretched, but this is a disgrace and I wish to express my disgust in the strongest possible terms. You have a duty of care to ensure that everything possible has been done to ensure that your patients are discharged into a safe environment and this did not happen. At this stage I am only interested in action from the relevant services, not platitudes.
"Promised post discharge care non- existent"
About: Stepping Hill Hospital Stepping Hill Hospital Stockport SK2 7JE
Posted via nhs.uk
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