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"Treatment of a dementia patient (my mum) with covid 19"

About: Glasgow Royal Infirmary / Respiratory Medicine (Wards 2, 6,7 10 & 16)

(as a carer),

My mum was admitted to gri in March . She has dementia and became unwell a couple of days before with rather vague symptoms . She was off her food / drowsy / nil liquids etc , paramedics attended ( fabulous guys who put her at ease ) . They explained due to the current pandemic I could not be with her through her assessment however they would explain to the nursing staff that it was desirable I was present to answer questions she cannot answer herself , this did not happen and indeed my mother was left on her own for five hours on a trolley while I sat in a separate waiting area patiently waiting on an update .

Eventually I approached reception to be told the day staff had not informed the night staff I was there!!!! I was ( five hours later allowed to be with her ) she was then transferred to a medical receiving ward . At no point did any of the staff wear protective equipment .

The next day I telephoned to be told she had pneumonia . She was subsequently tested for covid 19 and tested positive . At no point did anyone suspect this and no personal protection equipment was worn by any staff . My mum was treated promptly and efficiently by the staff in ward 50 ( the second ward and third department of her 24 hr visit ) . I was then allowed a one off visit wearing said PPE . During this visit staff cane round with the ‘tea trolley’ and one member of staff kindly made mum tea . She wore  no gloves / mask and kindly fixed mums oxygen ( nostrils ) then proceeded to go to the next room . A member of the medical team spoke to me re DNR . 

Mum improved and the following day happily continued to improve , sadly in isolation. You can only imagine how difficult this would be for her . The following day I was informed  she was being moved to ward 7 . A lovely member of the medical team phoned me to explain what was happening . Due to the fact she was covid positive you will be aware myself and my family are currently in isolation for 14 days . I explained this and this was met with reassurance due to her dementia she would be looked after until able to be sent home .

Sadly from that moment this has not been the case . She was subsequently moved to ward 46 having had one negative result for covid and then one positive . I was informed this was the best place for her .. . She remained there through Monday , I assumed until discharge . Sadly on tues evening less than 48 hrs in this dedicated ward I was phoned at 9pm to be told she was being moved again to ward 62 that evening . No explanation was given other than we need the beds and we are more of a receiving ward . I ask the question why move an80 yr old woman with dementia there in the first place ? 

She is now being moved to her fourth ward and sixth room in her ten day stay . No visitors ( I understand the difficult time we are all having ) The ward cannot tell me which consultant she will be under . She is by now agitated , confused and lost . Do you consider this fair and person centred care of an 80 yr old patient with dementia and covid . 

She will be once again lost and agitated and confused. She will also be under another medical team . I am baffled and as a staff member of GG and C frankly very saddened . 

I would appreciate a response 


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Responses

Response from John Stuart, Chief Nurse, North Sector, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 4 years ago
John Stuart
Chief Nurse, North Sector,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 01/04/2020 at 14:55
Published on Care Opinion at 14:55


Good afternoon,

I was sorry to hear of your mother's recent admission to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and equally saddened to hear of your experience. As you will appreciate,we are in very difficult times and I apologise for the frequency of moves you mother has experinced since her admission, however this will be driven by infection control guidance, our limited availability of single rooms and the need to cohort specific groups of patients.

I was also concerned regarding the clear breaches of infection prevention and control practices you have described and I apologise for this. I recognise that this will be a very difficult time for your and your family and accept that your recent experience of care will only serve to heighten your anxieties and concern.

If you are able to confirm your mother's CHI I think it would be helpful if one of the team looking after your mother was able to have a telephone conversation with you regarding the future clincial plan and any ongoing concerns you may have.

Please accept my apologies again for your experience of care. I accept that this experince does not reflect our care standards or the person centred approach to care we strive to deliver to all of our patients.

Your sincerely,

John Stuart

Chief Nurse.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

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Update posted by Confused and saddened (a carer)

Thankyou for your reply. I fully appreciate the unprecedented circumstances you are dealing with, just awful. However, my mother is a vulnerable person who is unable to provide any history/ answers etc and whom needs stability and continuity. The medical staff on ward 7 were exceptionally informative and communicative and understood this. Sadly a decision was made to move her to ward 46 at night and then 48 hrs later again at night to ward 62, I believe no longer in a single room. No member of staff has contacted me with any questions or update etc since then. These moves at night only heighten her confusion / agitation. My primary concern is trying to understand the plan for her treatment / discharge. It is also concerning that she is being moved so frequently with regard to being covid 19 positive. She was re tested on sun 29 th and this test result has not yet been received.

I do not have her CHI to hand but provide her DOB if that is helpful?

thankyou for your quick response.


Response from Rachel Pyle, Patient Experience Project Manager, Patient Experience Team, NHSGGC 3 years ago
Rachel Pyle
Patient Experience Project Manager, Patient Experience Team,
NHSGGC
Submitted on 11/06/2020 at 13:54
Published on Care Opinion at 13:54


picture of Rachel Pyle

Hello Confused and Saddened,

Please accept my very sincere apologies for the long delay in responding to you. I am sorry to read of you and your mother's experience and to hear that at the time of posting your comment, you had not received an update. I understand it must have been a very worrying time for you both and I am sorry that we have not been in contact sooner. If you would find it helpful, could you please share your mother's name and date of birth with me at Rachel.pyle@ggc.scot.nhs.uk to enable us to look into the matter in more detail. Again, I am really very sorry that no further contact was made with you at the time.

Best wishes,

Rachel

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