"End of life care"

My boyfriend's dad was admitted to hospital following a fall at home, after the amazing paramedics spent about 3 hours trying to convince pops to go to the hospital he finally agreed to everyone's relief. The staff in Clinical Assessment Unit were amazing and the doctor was very empathetic and understanding and explained everything to the tiniest detail. I was very impressed with this, made me feel that they cared about us and pops.

Pops was then admitted to ward A12 for further care, he became very unwell overnight and his condition deteriorated to a point where a DNAR was put in place. This was explained to us when we arrived on the ward, the day staff were great and very attentive. I was happy with this.......this is when things changed, and not for the better. 

Pops wasn't going to pull through this, I felt that some staff gave my boyfriend the indication that he may improve. I knew this wasn't the case, he was unresponsive to pain stimuli etc. I had to explain to my boyfriend just how unwell his dad was and that he wasn't going to pull through this. 

We stayed by his side for a week watching him deteriorate, I had to approach the nursing staff to ask for him to be given some suction, some nurses made me feel like a prat for asking for this and that I was wasting their time. One nurse who was AMMMAAZZZIINNGG would be there straight away with the suction and asking how we were. Eventually with consent from my boyfriend all care was removed and now it was a waiting game. Pops was placed on a pump for pain, agitation and secretions. This was great.

We were left sitting and sleeping on the horrid plastic blue chairs ( where I work we would be giving relatives more comfortable chairs, even if it meant borrowing them from another ward.)

The last few days of pop's care I felt that we were ignored by the staff dayshift and nightshift. I appreciate it's nice to give relatives time with the patient but there would be times where no one would show their face for hours.

What REALLY disappointed me was that pops wasn't getting position turns, he was on a nimbus but that was it, no tilts to relieve pressure. 

On the day he passed the nurse was amazing, very compassionate and empathetic. Treated pops with dignity making sure the old man looked nice and even sprayed him with lynx ( it was a nice touch as it made the room smell nice and not clinical).

I feel that some of the staff need to remember that even tho the relatives are sitting with their loved ones they need comfort too.