My mother is in her 90s and had previously been diagnosed as being in heart failure. At the beginning of September, her GP advised her that she needed to go into hospital, the GP phoned an ambulance to bring mum to the Royal. However, the ambulance brought mum to the Mater A &E. I wasn't allowed to accompany mum nor allowed to visit. On the previous visit to the Royal I stayed with mum until she was admitted to a ward and also permitted to visit each day as mum becomes extremely anxious, which is documented in her notes.
I went to the Ward on the Saturday, but was told that it was a Covid ward though she was non covid, so I wasn't allowed to visit. I was also told mum wasn't permitted out of bed, even to sit on a chair until she was risk assessed which wouldn't be until Mon when the physio was back on duty. I explained that, although mum used a Zimmer for support, she was up and about every day. The nurse apologised but there was nothing they could do.
On Sunday, my brother, who had flown over to see mum, pleaded to see her, was brought in and waved to mum through a window. He said there were 6 elderly people in the ward. I phoned later on and got through to the patient line, as nobody was answering the phone in the ward, and requested that a Doctor contact me to let me know what was going on with mum.
On Monday, I phoned the ward and was told mum wasn't going home that day, she had pulled the cannula out and was agitated. Still, I wouldn't be allowed to visit to reassure her. I knew she would be in a state so I went over to the Mater but again wasn't allowed in. I left very upset. I then phoned asking for the Consultant to phone me as they were the person making the decisions about mum. That was approx 11am.
I waited until 3pm and no call so I phoned mum's mobile repeatedly, I knew she wouldn't hear it and eventually a member of staff did. When I asked to speak to mum I was told she didn't want to speak to me. I knew then she was extremely distressed. I, by this stage was overwrought and said I was coming to take her home. When myself and my sister arrived the Consultant spoke to us. The Consultant said mum had been sedated as she had become extremely agitated & confirmed we could take her home.
When she was brought out in a wheelchair she was grey and making noises, she was unable to speak. She looked like she was dying. With the help of the porter we got her into the car, and my sister and I then carried mum from the car into the house. The following morning, Tues, mum had recovered sufficiently to get up and have breakfast. She said she wouldn't go back into hospital. For a few days at least she was up and about and enjoying her meals before she deteriorated and sadly passed away the following Tuesday night with her family with her.
It still upsets me that for those 4 days mum was frightened and alone. Why are non covid patients being treated in the Mater? My mum was in a Covid Ward along with 5 other elderly people, can you tell me that staff , Drs, nurses, domestic staff were confined to the non covid patients or were they going between the covid and noncovid patients?
The meal trolley was brought in on one of the occasions I was standing out in the corridor, the staff giving out those meals, were they serving everyone, were those staff covid free, are they all vaccinated? I am double vaccinated as was my mother. If I had left my mum there she would have died of a broken heart and I couldn't have lived with myself.
"We were not able to visit my elderly mother"
About: Mater Hospital / Accident & Emergency Mater Hospital Accident & Emergency BT14 6AB
Posted by maureeni52 (as ),
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See more responses from Bernie Carey
Update posted by maureeni52 (a carer) 3 years ago
See more responses from Bernie Carey
Update posted by maureeni52 (a carer) 3 years ago