My aunt was recently a patient in the Garrick ward of Stranraer hospital for three weeks after a fall.
The care on the ward seems to have been excellent though I was unable to visit personally - the staff all seemed caring and patient with my aunt.
After the initial checks my aunt was found to be suffering from paranoia and confusion, medication was prescribed.
I had several phone calls with staff, but never with a doctor. I was advised that my aunt would probably be moved to the rehabilitation ward prior to her discharge when a care package would be in place around mid September.
I was advised that it might be necessary to start looking at getting power of attorney and possible move to a care home.
On Monday of this week I spoke to my aunt and she was in a poor state mentally - I understood from staff that no change was planned.
However, on Wednesday, I rang the ward for an update only to be told that my aunt was waiting to be discharged and the ‘STARS’ team would be going in from that evening. I pointed out that there was no warning whatever of this and that there was no food, milk or anything necessary for her in the house - I had asked for 24 hours notice.
I was able to get shopping and stock the fridge etc but am very concerned that, had I not been able to do this my aunt would have arrived home to no food and the heating turned off (she has the heating on all the time as she feels the cold)
As it was, she was dropped off mid afternoon and a couple of hours later I had a call from a concerned friend to say that my aunt had called her in an awful state, she was covered in diarrhoea and no one to help. Again, thankfully, I was able to go round, to find her filthy, sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by three weeks of post which she had torn up and thrown on the floor. I showered her and cleaned up but am very concerned that she should have been left to cope alone when she was clearly in no fit state to manage.
Today, Thursday, the situation has settled somewhat and the care is in place.
I do not wish to complain in any way about the treatment my aunt received while in the hospital, only about the discharge, which seemed to me to be to be rushed and not planned, particularly that I was not informed.
Kind regards
Her next of kin
"Discharge with insufficient notice"
About: Galloway Community Hospital / General Medicine Galloway Community Hospital General Medicine DG9 7DQ
Posted by Bob it (as ),
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Update posted by Bob it (a service user) 3 years ago
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