"Social services ward 8 A"

I write on behalf of my sister and niece as they are not computer literate but wanted this comment told.- as I also, do.

My sister was taken into hospital approx 6 weeks ago. She had been in and out during the past year, with severe pain, severe headaches and a number of problems. She was told earlier, that she had three Ovarian Cysts but then nothing. As the year went on and after several cancelled appointments, she was sent back in on several occasions, seen for the day and sent home the same day. Once more told she would be contacted if anything is found.

She lost a massive amount of weight and we worried in case it was cancer. Over the months, she became confused and more headaches and pain. This time, she was kept in hospital. My niece— the next of kin —-was told nothing was found but my sister may have Rapid Onset Dementia.  My niece asked me to help as she was becoming ill with stress. I might add, my niece has had to look after her Downs Syndrome brother for many years as well as looking after her mother for bathing , toilet etc.

I asked,  when I visited my sister, if she may have had a stroke or, had she an infection somewhere which my cause this ROD. A few days earlier the hospital said she may have arterial Brain problems which they were to scan. They were to find out, one way or another, what was causing her illness, they said. Finally, they said the brain scan had been done and was fine. I asked if the back pain she had could possibly be a UTI? I was told, no. That was clear they said and all she had was calcium deficiency and was dehydrated .

My niece and I were asked what we thought about her going into a Care Home for a while as she was not well enough to go home due to the confusion etc. We agreed, as my niece could not care for her brother and her mother it was far too much. My niece waited to be contacted by the hospital but several days went by and she heard nothing. My niece could not take much more so I rang the hospital and was told my sister was now under a social worker and it had been arranged for her to go into a certain Care Home, not the ones we had suggested for my nieces convenience, I might add. The hospital were discharging my sister the next day and had told my niece, nothing!!

I rang the so-called SW. and was disgusted as they had only met my sister a couple of days earlier and already was ignoring the legal, next of kin!!! I informed them that they could not do this as they were forgetting about my niece and her Downs Syndrome brother in all this. This was pure dereliction of duty and arrogance on their part.

This SW said they would ring my niece immediately, which they did. My niece was told about the home her mother was in and that if she needed help, she was to ring him. My niece felt better, of course  but during the following week things started to unravel again as as bad as the problem is with her mother, she was suddenly told her mother was being sent home!!! Once again I rang the Social Worker only to be passed on to another one who’s first words were— “ does your sisters husband live with her”” I was shocked as has I informed them, my sisters husband had died years before!!! This new SW was out of sync completely and we were back to square one! 

My niece is then informed her mother would be home the next day! No earlier information, of course and as they could not find professional carers to come and help. They had arranged for voluntary ones. No one has been to see my niece at home or seems to care what problems she has!!

My niece asked what was wrong with her mother as she had not been told. I couldn’t believe what the SW said. All the things I personally had asked about and been told— that the brain scans were fine and no Urine Infections etc— and now this SW is telling my niece that that’s what was wrong after all! Why didn’t the hospital tell my niece and myself what they had found! This new SW was shocked, also. As I say, my niece is the legitimate next of kin!!

Now, once again, my niece is panicking not knowing if her mother will be sent home tomorrow. My sister cannot recall  my D S nephew already and he is afraid as he doesn’t recognise his mother as she used to be. My sister becomes violent at times yet, the Social Workers do not seem to realise the difficulties. The hospital and the SS have been more than remiss and this is totally disgusting. They are dealing with frightened and worried people. Can’t they see this??!! I feel they do not care especially as we are now told my sister has signs of Dewy Brain Problems.