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Hospital discharge - out of sight out of mind

Posted By errandpf56

"Hospital discharge - out of sight out of mind"

About: Borders Community Services / Hospital to home service Borders General Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics (Ward 9)

(as other),

My mother broke her hip and the care from ward 9 was really good, albeit you could tell they were stretched the staff cared and went out of their way to be kind and helpful.

Discharge was via a care home. Communication was shocking, only told hours before discharge where she was going. Arrived at the home and just abandoned and in a distressed state. The care home was pitched as for rehab and when there she was told no rehab activities due to covid (like learning how to make tea with a zimmer). Haphazard ot and physio visits and after c. 5 weeks sent home.

Carer support ended just after a week and the ot and physio have not been seen. Left on same pain relief as was in hospital and only through seeking help twice from gp meds altered. No after care and is essentially now housebound. Cannot shower independently. Really let down by the experience after discharge.  

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Responses

Response from Associate Director Allied Health Professions, NHS Borders 2 years ago
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NHS Borders

Submitted on 01/10/2021 at 16:39
Published on Care Opinion at 16:50

Hello.

I am sorry to hear of your experience on discharge from the Borders General Hospital. All patients and families should be communicated with around their discharge and onward care plans and I am sorry that this was not your experience. We would like the opportunity to understand this situation further and to ascertain if further support for your mother is required and to provide explanations regarding some of decisions that were made. Please contact our Home First Lead on 07795400500 to discuss this further.

Our hospital and community services have been under unprecedented pressure over the last 2-3 months with difficult clinical decisions having to be made around levels of rehabilitation and support. This however does not excuse poor communication and lack of explanations regarding your mother's care. I wish to apologise again for the negative experience that you have had and we would like the opportunity to discuss further.

Yours sincerely

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