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Care Opinion

Seeing him would boost his mental health

Posted By Everhopeful

"Seeing him would boost his mental health"

About: Crosshouse Hospital / General Medicine

(as a relative),

As an experienced healthcare worker myself, I understand the toll on all NHS workers and patients alike during the pandemic. 

However, the irony is not lost on me that despite being able to see patients in my own job wearing PPE, I am currently unable to visit my own elderly dad. He is currently being treated after admission with a fall and resulting head wound. Sadly he has now also contracted COVID and although unwell is stable and lucid. He is scared and lonely and unable to get out of bed himself. He has difficulty accessing his mobile phone to contact us his family or be contacted. 

I am sad that we can only currently see him if we get a call to say he has deteriorated significantly or if it is near end of life. 

I feel seeing him would boost his mental health and possibly even his physical condition. 

He has no access to face time or IPad to connect with us visually. Some wards in hospitals have been provided with iPads for assisted virtual visits. But not in this hospital.

I am very happy with the excellent medical and nursing care my dad is receiving but surely where we are at with Covid now, a short visit by 1 named person donned in PPE with a negative lateral flow test could be allowed. Even just once or twice a week. 

I look forward to your response 

Thank you

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Responses

Response from Linda Russell, Business Manager, Management Offices, Crosshouse Hospital, NHS Ayrshire & Arran 2 years ago
Linda Russell
Business Manager, Management Offices, Crosshouse Hospital,
NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Submitted on 21/09/2021 at 13:30
Published on Care Opinion at 13:30

Many thanks for sharing your feedback and I note the very reasonable points you have made in relation to our current visiting policy,

I appreciate that this has been a highly distressing time for you as a family, and especially for your Dad. The difficult decision to restrict visting was taken following a recent rise in COVID-19 infections. This was with the aim of keeping patients safe and minimising the potential risk of spread of the virus. That said, I do not underestimate the impact that this situation is having on patients and their loved ones and agree that it is far from ideal.

I was pleased to hear that your Dad's condition has stabilized but can only imagine how upsetting it must be if you are not able to communicate directly with him. Please feel free to call me on 01563 826210 or email me, linda.russell7@aapct.scot.nhs.uk and I will do all I can to arrange a virtual visit.

Thank you for your kind comments about the care your Dad is receiving, which we will share with the staff involved.

With best wishes,

Linda

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