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"My mum has vascular dementia and severe arthritis"

About: Dumfries & Galloway Community Services / District Nursing Dumfries & Galloway Community Services / STARS (Short Term Assessment Reablement Service)

(as other),

Mum had a fall. Care call sprang into action and paramedics arrived. They where great in assessing mum and getting her back into her chair. They also referred her to your service. However STARS called in and landed at mums front door without contacting myself who has power of attorney. I only know you called because I found a booklet you left and slip of paper regarding feed back. Mums dementia is so bad she can no longer read or remember that you called never mind what was said. Following her latest fall I have arranged with district nurse to supply wheeled commode discussed situation with her carers and social worker. Following discussions with social worker,  doctor, district nurse and family we are investigating possible care home for mum. What you have achieved is to confuse mum in a having a stranger enter her home and given me yet another situation to deal with

 As mums power of attorney do not contact mum again. There is nothing else you can offer that we havn't already investigated/ are doing. Stars where involved some years ago following discharge from hospital following investigations. We found service from Stars was a shambles then and would appear has not improved. District nurse and care call both contact myself as mums main carer and they have always given mum and myself every consideration and respect. I cannot say same about Stars

You asked for honest feedback. One phone call to myself would have saved your time and mine.

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Responses

Response from Wendy Barron, Short Term Assessment and Reablement Service (STARS), Short Term Assessment and Reablement Service (STARS), NHS Dumfries and Galloway 2 years ago
Wendy Barron
Short Term Assessment and Reablement Service (STARS), Short Term Assessment and Reablement Service (STARS),
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Submitted on 07/06/2021 at 19:44
Published on Care Opinion at 19:44


Dear Daisydo1

I am disappointed to read about you and your mothers experience. Stars staff work together with our Paramedic colleagues to quickly respond to falls at home. However, as you rightly say ensuring the individual's consent, or where this is not possible, recognising this and identifying family with P.O.A to ensure consent is part of the training and process to have Stars respond. Please accept our apologies that this was not undertaken in a satisfactory way that enabled you to be contacted and included.

The Paramedic Manager and I meet regularly to review how community falls support is progressing including any improvements we can make. It would help our understanding if you felt able to call directly to speak with me a bit more. In that way we could also provide more specific support to the staff who attended.

I understand that you may not wish to call directly. So for your reassurance I have messaged all Stars staff to remind everyone about ensuring we demonstrate awareness and good practice across the valid points you have raised.

kind regards

Wendy Barron

Rehabilitation and Enablement Manager 01387 241500

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