"Care my mother received in the Royal Victoria Hospital"

2020 following a visit from our GP an ambulance was called for my mum and we were brought to the Royal Hospital. My mum was in extreme agony and unable to move due to the pain in her back. Our first encounter was with a doctor who tried to roll her around and when she cried in pain they got very angry and said there was nothing they could do because she refused to be examined. I was with my mum and was able to say it was not that she was refusing it was more she was in agony and couldn't move. The doctor threw down the notes on the end of the bed and walked away. Another doctor finally came and admitted my mum for further investigation. It turned out my mum was in such pain because she had broken her spine!! My mum was on ward 7A and then also ward 7C while they kept making her try to walk and told her she would go into a home if she didn't, the side of her bed was left down and she tried to get out of bed to go to the loo and fell and broke her hip!

During a scan to access damage and try to understand what caused the break in her spine a lump was found on her breast which turned out to be cancer. My mum had a mastectomy.

A few months later my mum was very ill for a week with vomiting and diarrhoea. Our GP took blood tests and contacted us to say my mum must be brought straight to A&E. A&E at the Mater hospital was closed due to covid unfortunately we had to take her to the Royal. My mum was vomiting and in a wheelchair and staff in the Royal would not let me stay with her instead she was wheeled into the area past triage and left sitting with a kidney dish on her own. I rang the hospital a few times per day until she was moved onto a ward.

Noone contacted me tell me she had been moved or where she was. When I finally found a phone number online I got through to the ward  7C again and was told I would receive a call each day for an update however no news was good news and not to worry. I agreed with the sister to call and see my mum straight away. Before I could do that though my brother rang me to say my mum was hysterical on the phone saying she had been told she had lung cancer. I explained this could not be right as the sister had spoke to me less than an hour previously and mum was confused. 

I approached the nurses station to ask what bed she was in and explained what happened and how I was shocked because I spoke to the sister and had also handed in two separate letters stating I was my mums advocate and took care of her and all medical information and treatment needed to be discussed with me (something my GP told me to do. The nurse asked me to wait in the hall until they could get a doctor to speak to me. The doctor arrived and confirmed our worst fears, they had found cancer in my mums liver and spleen. (Not her lung  my mum was confused).  My sister and I were told that an MDT meeting would happen the following week to find out what treatments would be available and to give them time to run further tests. It was agreed with the doctor, myself and my mum that all findings would be discussed with me present not only for support but so I could get the right information and ask questions.

Not once did this happen. I asked every day for a week to speak to someone, noone was available. I asked for the results of the MDT and was told it can take another week or so before they have decided. In the meantime my mum was still very ill and was unable to eat or drink. I asked what was being done to address this and was finally greeted by a doctor who told us due to the spread they would not be focusing on the vomiting and diarrhoea. I asked was there a further spread and was told there was and cancer was also in her bones.

The consultant in charge never once spoke to us and at my wits end I contacted Macmillian who had a base in the Royal Hospital. The Macmillian nurse asked for my permission to go to ward 7C to gather information as my mum was not on their records. I agreed. It was only then someone explained to us the extent of my mums illness and that she would need palliative care. Macmillian contacted the palliative team and only then did someone come and see my mum. 3 weeks after being admitted and finding out the extent of her spread.

The palliative team met with me  arranged a syringe driver for my mum and for her to be sent home. The staff on 7C arranged the ambulance however my mums medication was not available after waiting 7 hours. The ambulance brought my mum home with the arrangement to collect the medication later that evening. By 10pm I still had not heard and my mum was in agony and very sick. I contacted the District nurse who said they could do nothing until the meds were received and they had never heard of a patient who was dying being sent home with no pain relief. I had to go to the ward and sit for an hour before they were ready.

My mum passed away 6 days later. My mum received an extremely poor level of care in the three wards on level 7. I have a lot more I could list however space will not allow.