"My elderly father's recent admission"

My elderly Dad has advanced vascular dementia. He went to Ipswich Hospital last week because the carer called the doctor as he’d slept all day and it was difficult to rouse. In context however, with my Mum being taken by paramedics to A and E with severe atrial fibrillation at 2am that same day it’s not surprising he was extra tired, but decisions had been made when I arrived at the house. He *had* been getting progressively more sleepy the past fortnight but he is nearly 93 and has advanced dementia, so I had’t been unduly worried.

Dad was taken to A and E by ambulance as the paramedics suspected he’d had a TIA - he was awake when he left us. No one was allowed to go to hospital with him, he was not allowed to take anything in, but despite the paramedics taking my number and being aware of the situation when he was admitted, twice I was told (by an A and E Dr. and a Brantham Ward nurse) they thought my mum was still in hospital, and that no one had a contact number for me. I have both financial and health and welfare Power of Attorney for both my parents and it’s vital that information is passed on accurately. They also thought it was his third admission yet he hadn’t been in hospital for over 45 years and never in Ipswich…

The assessment unit STILL thought mum was in hospital and whilst waiting for the CT results they told me he was going to Washbrook Ward, which was a green ward. They told me I “was lucky” the referral to the ward had been accepted - which I thought was odd at the time. We were still under the impression they thought he had had a mini stroke at this point. It was tough getting info but apparently they did a chest X ray (routine I think?) and we were told it was clear later and all his tests were normal. I did ask on Saturday if his CT scan did not show a TIA, if he had a clear chest X Ray (no chest infection), his blood test inflammatory markers were ok and his urine sample was clear as we'd been told and he’s been assessed by the therapy team then surely he should be home? It didn’t even sound as if I was speaking to someone about the right patient - reduced oxygen levels were mentioned but we’ve not been told he’s ill?

Then on Monday we were told the x ray was not clear and they thought he had COVID, he had a temperature and his oxygen levels were low so he was to remain in until at least Friday. However only an hour later the ward consultant called me the chest x ray was fine, he hadn't needed oxygen and they didn't think he had COVID - and indeed he had tested negative. Anyway we were told he was safe on a GREEN ward, which was actually incorrect, it turned out later the ward was a red COVID ward!

I called so many times, different info every time, he had a temperature, didn’t have a temperature, needed oxygen, didn’t need oxygen, he was happy, he was agitated and very difficult to manage… I explained he was very, very confused at the best of times but they said he had 1:1 care because he was the only patient on a bay of 6 beds so I expected them to be looking after him. The therapy team called on Saturday and were helpful, we discussed what his usual state was etc and I believed they were still trying to determine whether he had had a TIA, whether he was worse than usual and when he could come home. The lack of information was frustrating, but theMISinformation was infuriating.

Then we had a call Monday to say he was going to a “bridging” assessment bed before a care home as it was unsafe for him to come home. Bearing in mind we had not seen him, he had nothing familiar with him etc it's not surprising he was so confused, no one knew why he’d been admitted and assumed it was his delirium. They were *still* basing decision making on incorrect info that it was his third admission, mum was in hospital etc. I explained *again* that this was all incorrect, that whatever happened going forward he had to come home first and this was agreed after literally hours on the phone. I was told there had been some "misinformation" by the physiotherapist who said we should have had a call from the DIST team prior to this.

He came home yesterday and oh my GOD what a state he was in. Covered in poo, no shower or shave for 5 days, and worst of all covered in severe bruises, plus three dressings on his arms for skin tears. He was exhausted, shaking and in a bad way. It took nearly 2 hours to get him upstairs and showered, he was very frightened. He shouted when touched and was in pain - NONE of this was the case before admission.

We were told discharge was conditional on a package of 4 x daily care and the care team who came the first night from the hospital were horrified, and said we must complain. The ward staff cannot explain how he hurt himself, and apologised, said he had been restricted to bed because it was a COVID ward and I assume he is now stiff and has lost mobility as a result. They told me he had 1:1 observation so I asked why that person could not have called to ask what he needed, what might help etc. This is a very difficult time for the NHS, we totally appreciate that but the ward was quiet, there was no excuse for not supporting him appropriately - particularly at a time when no family contact was permitted!!

Today we learned from the new carers that we have 3 days-3weeks care MAXIMUM, and 3 x 1/2 hr visits only. We were told to cancel our pre-existing care package and are going to be left stranded. We have no care for morning showers now, and in any case you cannot get dad in the shower in half an hour!

We want to know the following:-

1) Why was the info passed on from the paramedics disregarded? Why were the corrections I gave not recorded?

2) Why was he admitted if his CT did not show a stroke?

3) Why was he admitted to a "red" ward? The ward sister said he showed no obvious signs and they were quite good at spotting those with COVID.

4) Why were we told he was admitted to a green ward?

5) Why were we persistently told conflicting information?

6) Why was a discharge plan made without our involvement to a care home, based on inaccurate info which I had repeatedly corrected?

7) If he was the only patient on a 6 bed bay how on earth did he get so injured? If it is age related etc why do the experienced community care team think we should complain ?

8) WHY were we told to cancel pre-existing care and promised 8 WEEKS of 4 visits daily? Care team say this happens all the time, the hospital promise things they can’t deliver - but we never asked for care and should not have been told to cancel pre-existing care.