"Poor discharge for elderly patient."

We felt that my elderly father was discharged before he was fit. We were told it was very unlikely he would last more than 24 hours on admission to hospital but he pulled round and he improved slightly but was still very frail and we were told he was very poorly.

A week after admission he was sent for rehab in a step down unit which we felt was too soon but put our trust in the doctors looking after him. He rapidly declined after discharge and that same night the paramedics were called after he became unresponsive and had unstable vital signs, but on them contacting the hospital they were advised for him not to return as they said that was how he had been on discharge??

The next night paramedics were called again as he was worsening; again the same response from the hospital. We then agreed with an out of hours doctor that he was palliative and we were happy for him to be looked after in the step down unit with medications to keep him comfortable. It then came to light that his DNAR form, completed in hospital was filled out incorrectly, making it void, so it necessary for him to return to hospital where he was made ‘end of life’ on arrival. We feel miffed by the whole experience, it made us feel as though he was pushed out ASAP as they needed the bed for the next ‘number’ sorry patient.