"Visiting"

My mother age 74 who suffers from Schizophrenia as well as vascular dementia, my mother also doesn't speak any English has been admitted to QEUH ward ARU4 last night with decreased mobility and raised troponin levels. I have been told by several staff members in this ward as well as the nurse specialist for the elderly I can not go and visit and provide care for my mother to whom I am a full-time carer and also having Guardianship order. Staff in this ward report this is due to Covid- 19 restrictions and that they are sorry for any distress that this has and may cause both to me and mother. I feel that staff are not well informed of the visiting guidelines as it clearly states in GGC visiting guidelines under the Special Arrangements:

Special Arrangements

Special arrangements will be made to accommodate the following essential visitors:

•One birthing partner supporting a woman during hospital visits

•Parents of children who are inpatients or attending an outpatient appointment. Parents must remain with their child at all times

•One person to support someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed

•One family member/person for someone receiving end of life care.

Due to their lack of demonstrated understanding and awareness of the policy, I feel both me and my mother have been treated far from person-centred care. Given my mother's medical history and language barrier, I am extremely anxious leaving her in this ward where she is unable to communicate her own needs. And as a guardian, I was granted the powers by the Court of law to be her voice in these circumstances but I feel I have come across a big barrier that I cant seem to cross despite having guardianship I am being prevented to provide care for my mother and discuss her medical condition with clinicians and make the appropriate decision regarding her medical condition.

To say that I am frustrated with the lack of care and compassion that has been shown to both of us is an understatement. I feel I have been left with no other choice but to seek advice from the Public Guardian as to why an organisation in question is disregarding/ dismissing Courts order.