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Patients need to actually hear the assessment questions

Posted By felixthecat

"Patients need to actually hear the assessment questions"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres / Diabetes care (Ward 10)

(as a relative),

My mother was admitted with urine infection and high blood sugar and dehydration and accompanying confusion a mental health assessment was carried out when she had lost her hearing aids and this made matters worse. Still no hearings aids the hospital want to move her to Stonehouse most of her family live East Kilbride.

Assessment needs to be done when the patients can hear the questions, Patients feel isolated and scared if moved to another town it would be unfamiliar and introduce confusion. Although confusion is there this has been handled less than well.

The way forward would be familiar surround with home helpers but this would require persuasion.

Some doctors need to be reminded of the difference between a question and a instruction and Gentle persuasion. 

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Responses

Response from Neil Ferguson, Service Manager Care of the Elderly, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 5 years ago
Neil Ferguson
Service Manager Care of the Elderly, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 05/04/2019 at 09:36
Published on Care Opinion at 09:46

Hi felixthecat,

Thank you so much for taking the time to contact us.

I was sorry to hear of the experience for you and your mother. Assessment of patients displaying signs of confusion is always a delicate matter and your points are well made about the importance of an appropriate environment and setting, in particular for a patient to be wearing hearing aids. Our hospital strives for these standards, and from your account of things, it would appear we have not lived up to them on this occasion. For this I must apologise.

I note also that without further detail, I am not able to seek any comments from our team to perhaps provide any further explanation of how events transpired. My hope is that the team would have been communicating with you at the time. Again, I must apologise if this was not your experience.

In relation to proposed transfer to Stonehouse hospital, I can tell you that it common place for a number of our patients to be transferred there. Of course, our first thought is to transfer people directly home with support, but where this is not able, Stonehouse provides the most calming, homely environment we have available to us within the Acute Health Service. Decisions to transfer patients there are based on patient need, and are governed by a Consultant led, multi-disciplinary team of therapists, specialising in the care of older adults.

Again, I'm sorry for you and your mother's experience thus far, and hope that the team at Stonehouse go some way to providing reassurance to you of the excellent care they provide. I hope your mother's health continues to improve and that appropriate community support can be arranged to allow her to return home as soon as possible.

Neil

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Update posted by felixthecat (a relative)

A doctor was told on several occasions moving my mother was not to be done, she is more suited to a ward with the hustle and bustle goings but in a private room is isolation and quiet is torture. Her blood sugar levels need regular monitoring because they were high and this will aggravate her condition this was not previously needed before but is now needed. Previous to this she was not taking her tablets.

It is highly inappropriate for you to suggest Stonehouse Hospital will sort out any other issues. Hairmyres hostpital behaved appallingly, they should sort this out. Patients should not be put away out of sight to be left to deteriorate. She has a large family and we will fight her corner. To date still no hearing aids. Please do not pass this on.

Response from Susan Friel, Director of Nursing, Acute Services, NHS Lanarkshire 5 years ago
Susan Friel
Director of Nursing, Acute Services,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 05/04/2019 at 15:51
Published on Care Opinion at 16:08

picture of Susan Friel

Dear felixthecat

Thanks for your posts above. Its really clear that you feel strongly that we've let you down and I am genuinely sorry you feel this.

I'm aware that you have been in contact directly with the Patient Affairs Department we will progress this via our processes.

Kind Regards

Susan

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Update posted by felixthecat (a relative)

I was phoned by a social worker who claimed my mother has got out into the car park yesterday, yet as the doors are electronically locked and she is deep inside the hospital this is quite a surprise.

The road outside the hospital is the A71 Edinburgh to Kilmarnock road very heavy traffic very fast. Surely this goes against the claims of the mental health assessments done with out hearing aids and in fact she is mentally sharp enough to escape now the urine infection had cleared blood sugar levels still?. I did say Stonehouse is not the right place for her but no one is listening.

Response from Susan Friel, Director of Nursing, Acute Services, NHS Lanarkshire 5 years ago
Susan Friel
Director of Nursing, Acute Services,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 11/04/2019 at 14:19
Published on Care Opinion on 12/04/2019 at 13:30

picture of Susan Friel

Dear Felixthecat

I am so sorry that this happened to your mother. Safety both at Hairmyres Hospital and at the Lockhart Unit in Stonehouse Hospital are our primary concern at all times. There is a controlled entry system at the Lockhart Unit, however it is not a locked ward.

Just to update you, I can confirm that we are in receipt of your email and we will address this incident directly with you in more detail along with your other concerns in our response via our Patient Affairs Department. I would encourage you to email any further issues via the Patient Affairs Department to enable us to provide a more detailed response to your concerns.

Senior Charge Nurse Thomson, Lockhart Unit will also be happy to discuss your mother's on-going care with you at any time.

Once again please accept my sincere apologies

Thanks

Susan

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