"Excellent inpatient care, poor follow-up care"

My mum (this is written with her full consent and agreement) was admitted several weeks ago to Ward 16 in Wishaw General Hospital following a fall and fracturing her hip!  She was operated on and admitted for 10 days, during which time she received excellent care from the orthopaedic team, nursing team, support staff and the physio and occupational therapy teams!  We were fortunate that visiting had recommenced for short periods every day and her husband was able to visit, however it was such a comfort to know she was being cared for so well in the hospital!

However, this has all been slightly overshadowed by the follow up care!  

 She was discharged 9 days post-operatively with her dressing still in place!  When she asked prior to discharge she was advised that it would be looked at by the community nursing team the following day!  When we contacted the community team the following afternoon, having not heard from them, our suspicions were confirmed when we were advised that they had not received a referral from the hospital!!!  We immediately contacted our GP service, who thankfully made the referral despite having no discharge letter (which we are still waiting to receive several weeks later!!!) or formal information. 

The community nursing team were brilliant when they came out the next day, however the ward hadn't given us the required 7 days worth of dressings that my mum was supposed to have been given on discharge for them to use!  They "made do" with what they had and we cant thank them enough!  My mums leg was also incredibly swollen and they were able to put our minds at rest by advising us that this was normal and should be expected for the following few weeks!  No information had been supplied regarding what to expect with this type of injury prior to discharge!

Mum was discharged with a zimmer frame for walking and a crutch to use going up and down stairs!  We were advised she would be seen by community physiotherapists!  We contacted them as well as, not wanting a repeat of the community nursing situation, and left a message!  There was no contact from anyone for a week until my mum was contacted by a member of the team who my mum did not find particularly helpful!  She was advised that she was on a waiting list and likely wouldn't be seen for 2 months! 

When my mum asked is she was supposed to use a zimmer frame for that length of time, the member of staff was completely unhelpful and said she would send out further exercises and that was all she could do!  The exercises arrived a week later - it was supposedly a personal plan for my mum, however i would like to know how this was the case, as she hadn't been reviewed!  The exercises were also completely useless and there was no way that she was anywhere near being able to complete them!  And to be honest, with significant medical history, which she would have known had, at the very least, an over the phone initial consultation taken place, my mum wouldn't have been able to follow these!  She has now been home for 6 weeks and we have still had no form of communication!  My mum contacted the ward to speak to the physios who had cared for her in the hospital - a message with contact details were left, however she got no phone call back!

We fully understand how busy these services and the pressures they are often under - however my mum feels very much like she has been discharged out of the hospital with no support and no idea of what to do to help herself heal and recover in the best way possible!  

My mum has contacted her GP surgery who have advised that mum should have an orthopaedic follow up appointment within, I believe 2-3 months, which she hadn't been advised of, nor has she received a formal discharge letter with any of this information!  We wait with anticipation as to whether we need to chase this follow up as well!!

6 weeks down the line, post discharge my mum still has no idea what she should and shouldn't be doing!  Following a really positive hospital admission, she, and her family, feel incredibly let down with the follow up care!