"Restriction on visiting dying loved ones"

My husband was admitted with sepsis to medical high dependency. We didn’t know if he would survive and yet visiting was limited to one hour.

He was transferred to ward 5D as he showed signs of improvement but developed a delirium which none of the staff including medics picked up on Again visiting was restricted to 1 hour. I could clearly see he was declining.

I asked the staff if his bowels were moving which they were unable to confirm. I stated clearly this would have severe consequences for his recovery and he continued to decline. My husband had Right sided heart failure with severe tricuspid incompetence so he was very vulnerable to deterioration at any point. I felt I was denied valuable time with him at the end of his life and perhaps if I had been allowed to be with him I could have prevented the bowel problems which I felt compounded his delirium.

His blood picture indicated the sepsis was improving. He went into acute right sided heart failure probably brought on by the gastric upset. His final last hours were intolerable to watch he was given morphine and midazolam   but not enough to keep him comfortable. I will live with those memories of his last 12 hours and be guilt ridden for not pushing for better care.

To compound matters, the time of death documented was 2 hours late and there was no indication of bowel obstruction or perforation on the death certificate. I feel you should strongly rethink your visiting priorities and be aware of genuinely sick patients who have the potential to deteriorate at any point. Ensure your nurses listen to family concerns. Do regular ATs on patients who fit that criteria, and most importantly do not underestimate the impact of good bowel management on vulnerable patients.