"not a good one!"

What I liked

The food was excellent.

What could be improved

My mum was admitted onto EMAU with a lung infection on top of emphysema. She is totally mentally with it.

Her two nights on EMAU confined her to her bed as there was no chair to sit on. She is not a person who moans all the time, but she described this, along with the lack of windows, as like being in a prison. The beds around her were occupied, at least some of the time by men, and she found using the commode embarrassing in these circumstances.

On her second day in on EMAU, she was offered a strip wash by a male nurse, which she politely declined asking for a female to do it. This never happened. Thankfully I was able to sit mum on a visitors chair, and in a very confined space where I could not get to her left side, or remove her worn nighty (because of her cannula) and gave her the wash when I visited in the evening.

Because of her lung infection, the thought was she would be moved to Shawford Ward, however, in desparation due to lack of beds, she was eventually put in the geriatric unit. She did at least have windows and a chair to sit in! However, those around her all had dementia and would walk around and call out all the time, including throughout the night. Mum got more stressed than I have ever seen her during this time.

Thankfully, she has now recovered after her 9 day stay, but is determined that if she gets another infection, she would rather take her chances in her own bed than be admitted to Winchester hospital again. Compared to her time in Lymington hospital in July this year (which was excellent), there was just no comparison.

Anything else?

I understand from the Breathe Easy group that Eastleigh has a Community Matron who is able to get involved in long term conditions. I believe Mum's GP has contacted her, but as yet we have heard nothing (in the last couple of weeks). What can you recommend to keep mum out of hospital, apart from avoiding those with coughs and colds? We have now purchased a nebuliser and pulse oximeter. What else would help?ColdsInfectionsFoodBedsWashroomMatronDementiaStressWard