Mum had severe back pain and couldn’t move much following a suspected fall. GP requested paramedics who decided to take her for X-rays at Dumfries Hospital.
She was admitted and we told the staff by phone ( due to CoVid we could not go with her) that Mum has cognitive impairment and that they must tell us any news or information directly by telephone and not rely on Mum to remember. We repeated this request at each of 8 calls over two days.
Mum was discharged with no information given to us and we discovered at home that she had two fractured vertebrae! She had travelled home by private car, with a sealed letter and at no point were we informed despite asking for updates or a conversation with the ward doctor. The GP had to organise a hospital bed, nurses and carers urgently and the poor discharge was considered ‘ unsafe’. It caused tremendous suffering to my Mum in terms of unnecessary pain and distress and to Us in terms of worry and distress.
The pandemic is not a reason to abandon basic communication skills.
"Mum’s stay in hospital"
About: Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary / General Medicine Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary General Medicine DG1 4AP
Posted by Feeb (as ),
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