"Palliative care and safety concerns"

Hi

I am writing this on behalf of a very anxious and upset family. 

My mother in law is currently in Ward 9 of Hairmyres hospital, and is receiving care for a blood condition and terminal cancer. Unfortunately my mother in law has been in and out of hospital over the last few months, and my concerns have grown in number over this time. I feel that she has been dismissed, ignored and treated appallingly. It has made me feel dejected, not just at how she has been treated, but the impact on her family too. 

Firstly, she was admitted to Hairmyres after taking a fall. It was not her first time at hospital and it clearly stated on her medical notes that due to her blood condition she had no immune system and needs a single room as an infection could be fatal. My mother in law had to mention several times to staff that she should be in a single room, while they were actively transporting her to an open ward. 

Secondly, During this stay in hospital, she was told by a doctor that due to her blood condition, she was untreatable and would not be resuscitated should she lose consciousness. This was said out of the blue to my mother in law, while she was on her own and without any prior discussion with any medical staff. There was absolutely no person-centred care given, no shared decision making when she was told this by the doctor. It caused her and the family distress. At no point had my mother in law even been asked about her wishes in this regard. My father in law raised it with another doctor, who confirmed that this was wrong but I do not know if the information was shared wider. 

My father and sister in law made it clear that any future possibly distressing conversations with my mother in law regarding her health should take place when one of them is present, as she wanted someone with her to take in the information and to provide emotional and communication support.

Secondly, when she was given the news a few weeks ago that the cancer she has battled with for the last 4 years has spread to most of her body, the doctor told her while she was on her own, and left her on her own to process this information, as I was advised the doctor was 'in and out' to give her the news. I cannot believe that someone actually thinks this is an acceptable way to deliver such news. 

I just want my mother in law to be safe, to be treated like a human being, to be cared for and not seemingly ignored or dismissed as a 'waste of time' because she is now in palliative care. That is what this feels like.

There are many good things I can say about her care, but right now my priority is to keep her safe and comfortable. 

I would be grateful for someone at Hairmyres to confirm my mother in law will receive better communication, more attention to detail in terms of people looking at her medical records and to be spoken to in a way the doctor would want their family spoken to at a time like this. 

It just feels like she is being treated as someone taking up a bed. Believe me - at this stage of her disease my mother in law would much rather be at home receiving care from her family. She is not in Hairmyres by choice.