I have previously had to write on here regarding the failure to replace my Aunt's kidney stent when it is due. Unfortunately, I have to write again as the same problem has occurred. However, I feel that this time the implications of this have been far greater and I believe have caused more damage than the last time. My Aunt is in her eighties. She should be in annually to have her stent replaced. She had her pre-op assessment back in late 2018 and is still waiting. In this year alone, she has been admitted to Ninewells on several occasions, placed in hospitals and care homes for rehab, had numerous visits from Community Alarm, physios, OTs, paramedics, GPs. She's being prescribed antibiotics regularly as she keeps fighting UTIs.
Now, she keeps falling, not eating or walking properly as the poor woman is constantly fighting off infections. I'm sure this is caused by her stent being overdue. I appreciate that, at times, not always, she is receiving a great standard of care when it comes to helping her walk better. However, if the problems are directly exacerbated by her inability to function due to infections, how is this helping? How much money is being spent looking at her mobility instead of what I feel is the root cause?
I'm so angry and bitterly disappointed. I am watching a woman who has been a huge part of my whole life and who I love and admire greatly, disintegrate before my eyes. She's exhausted, frustrated, worried sick about her ability to remain independent and doesn't understand why she's not been admitted for her usual op. Only once, when admitted recently to Ward 16, did the staff there listen to my Mum and understand that the stent was having an effect on my Aunt. They said that the Doctor on that Ward would chase up my Aunt's op. Unfortunately, now she's out and in rehab at a Care Home, we've no way of knowing if this has in fact been done.
Just how many infections can one older woman cope with before her body gives up? Is she being ignored because she's elderly? Why does it seem that services are not looking at the whole picture here? I feel that she needs seen asap. She deserves a decent quality of life and getting her in and getting her a new stent will, I believe, go a long way to giving my Aunt exactly that.
"Exhausted, frustrated, and worried sick"
About: General practices in Tayside General practices in Tayside Ninewells Hospital / General Medicine Ninewells Hospital General Medicine DD1 9SY Ninewells Hospital / General Surgery Ninewells Hospital General Surgery DD1 9SY
Posted by Astiforme (as ),
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