"Some of the carers nurses and ..."

What I liked

Some of the carers nurses and doctors were compassionate .The physios and OTs on the stroke ward were good. the doctor the first night on 5 west was wonderful, but he was moved almost immediately

What could be improved

I am writing for my husband as he cannot talk or write. He was admitted in late August after a stroke, the second in 2009, and the 4th altogether, He was not thought to have much chance of survival. There was no room on the Stroke ward. He ended up on Ward 8 north. The consultant gave him a poor prognosis and wanted him discharged after 10 days. I asked the neuro team but no room on the stroke ward. Turned out there are very few beds for stroke cases, yet it is supposed to be a centre of excellence. He did go up there after 3 weeks. I felt unsupported and had to find a nursing home with little help. The discharge procedure was poor although once the manager got involved it went smoothly. He was granted continuing NHS care. He cannot swallow/speak and is completely reliant on care. At a follow up in December the consultant did not even take his blood pressure. He wanted to put him on Warfarin although this had been discounted after the stroke [bleed] in January and various tests, and 2 bouts of epitaxis - hospitalised in July 2009. I felt it wrong to put him thru blood tests etc, and he had made a living will stating he did not want any more procedures, so this decision was reversed after consultation with the GP and consultant. The whole thing was a nightmare. He has now been in a nursing home for 3 months. He is a retired consultant psychiatrist who after retiring at 60 worked for the MOD and for the Mental Health tribunal service, including at Charing Cross Hospital! He worked until his first stroke in 2005 at the age of 75. I saw some questionable practice. I was surprised at how difficult it was to get to talk to the neuro team. They do seem to have very high profile as experts, but I couldn't see how.

Anything else?

My husband was an excellent doctor and caring of the family members of a patient too. I did not see this sort of care until the very end when the discharge team were helpful. The neuro team never addressed him by his professional name which seems disrespectful, however hard I tried he was still addressed wrongly.