"Father’s recent experience in hospital"

My Father had been in Forth Valley Hospital for 9 weeks before he very sadly passed away. His initial experience in an A ward was not positive as he was admitted with an infection but wasn’t given antibiotics or fluids for 4 days he had to sleep on a chair as he couldn’t lie in a bed due to pain, unfortunately he then had kidney failure and was admitted to ICU where he had to have Kidney dialysis. The staff in ICU were amazing they were so informative about my dad and kept us up to date on his progress. He always looked comfortable and was shaved and washed everyday. The male nurses were especially good with him and showed they were in the right profession with there attitude and bedside manner.

My dad was moved to B31 where he took a bit of adjusting from the one to one nursing and unfortunately had a bad experience one evening when a nurse refused to help him into bed as they would hurt their back. I would have thought manual handling training would have been part of the compulsory CPD for staff.

After this my dad was moved to B32 where we met Caroline (sorry I don’t know her surname) this the main reason for telling this story as I can’t tell how much we appreciate how Caroline helped my dad and lifted his spirits she settled him into the ward she made sure he was clean and tidy and for the first time in weeks put his own clothes on him which made all the difference to us, she made us feel he was going to be well cared for and put our mind at rest. We met Caroline in the lift by chance days later she recognised us and asked after him, we were able to tell her that he wasn’t doing well and she said she would pop by and see him, which made his day.

In the final days my dad was in a side ward and Caroline walked past she wasn’t working in the area that day but noticed my dad needed a shave and again had a hospital gown on, she told us to have a cup of tea whilst she sorted him. We returned to the room and my dad looked clean and very comfortable and smelt amazing I think the aftershave was applied twice. She went above and beyond and we are so grateful for the attention she gave my dad. Before she finished her shift she came by and checked on my mum and I which meant a lot to us. Very sadly my dad passed away and we also wanted to thank nurse Alice who was on at night she was so gentle and treated my dad with dignity and respect which my mum was grateful for.

As my dad passed at the weekend the death certificate was not Issued we would get a phone call on Monday. No phone call on Monday so my mum phoned we were told it would be ready in the afternoon. We got a call to collect it, this was not positive my mum and I had to go back to the ward where my dad had passed walk past the rooms etc try and find a nurse who were busy when we first arrived so had to wait until one was available, then were asked to wait in the quiet room till the doctor came. I do think this process needs review as I personally found this very upsetting.

Overall my dads experience in hospital was good there are some very kind caring staff as I realise he wouldn’t have been an easy patient.