"Accused of exaggerating"

Elderly mother in her 80's, admitted to hospital (was asked to attend for monitoring of blood pressure and daily physio)  with trapped femoral nerve and posterial  drop hypotension.

Admin staff were good, sent to the ward, unfortunately we didn't know, consultant etc is off at weekends.

My mother was in a lot of pain quite unbearable at times, and also, due to low blood pressure, was extremely difficult and frightened to move from bed as had collapsed a few times, hence her admittance to hospital.

Nothing was done on Friday, no blood pressure, no physio, no doc.

Nothing on Sat. That evening, my mum was in so much pain but needed to go across the ward to toilet. Asked the night shift nurses for help and was refused! She was then accused of exaggerating and being dramatic by a staff member, and that crying means nothing as they see it all the time. She was then made to walk to the toilet herself, going from bed to bed, across the ward, to the toilet. Another patient even asked if she wanted help!

On the Sunday when I visited my Mum told me what was said. After visiting I reported to a member of staff who said they would deal with it. Which they did, subsequently, 2 senior members of staff visited and asked my Mum exactly what had happened. Apologised and said the staff involved would be round that evening to apologise.

Different staff on ward that night. Staff quite busy in ward, so mum thought, go to toilet when plenty folk about, just in case she got dizzy, there would be help. When came out of toilet, ward lights were dimmed! Now her bed was lying empty, would they not think to check she was ok in toilet? What if she had fallen?! Anyway, considering how busy and extremely over- stretched nursing staff are at moment, would just leave that incident.

Main issue being the way that staff member spoke to a vunerable  elderly patient. Not acceptable, so felt necessary to put my complaint in writing.

Mum was discharged on the Monday. Blood pressure taken that morning , confiming hypotension and saw the physio, for first time, that morning too.  Unfortunate that just one incident can be the cause of bad publicity for an extremely good hospital.