"Lack of Care"

I am paralysed down one side of my body due to a CVA that occurred over 20 years ago. I am normally a fairly independent person able to mobilise with the use of a walking stick and an ankle support. I do need help to put the ankle support on but once on I am able to get about on my own.

Due to my paralysis, I also need a little bit of assistance with things like opening lids, cutting my food etc, but apart from this, I am pretty much able to fend for myself and pride myself in my ability. I have never let my stroke stop me from doing or trying to do anything. Although I have this paralysis, I have never viewed myself as disabled.

I was recently admitted, by ambulance to Antrim Hospital ED. This was on the advice of my GP. He had taken blood tests which indicated that I was very dehydrated due to having diarrhoea for over a week. He arranged an ambulance to take me to the hospital and I was admitted to the hospital.

I have never, in my life, been made to feel the way I was made to feel during this time.

Due to my stroke, I was unable to maintain a good position in bed and found myself leaning to one side. This wasn’t helped by the fact that I had only one pillow and an intravenous infusion running in one arm and my paralysis in the other. I was left to lie on my side in bed the whole time I was there, this included meal times.

At mealtimes, the tray of food was left on the table and I had to eat it, as best I could, on my side. The tray was left but no assistance was provided or offered to cut up the food or open the cartons.

I constantly had to ask for a drink of water to be left and had to listen to staff complain about how much I was drinking, despite being admitted with dehydration and being told by the doctors "to drink lots".

I constantly had to ask for the call bell to be left within reach. When I did have the call bell and rang for help, staff would walk past the room, look in and say they'd be back in a minute, but they never came back.

I had to ask for my pad to be changed eight times one day before it was done. I was wet, uncomfortable and humiliated at being left to lie like this.

Although I asked for my ankle support to be put on on several occasions, it never was. This is absolutely vital for me as I am unable to walk without it.

My bed was raised so high that it was impossible for me to get out of it to sit on the chair, despite asking for it to be lowered.

The one pillow I had was disgusting and covered in stains. I asked if it could be changed and was told I was lucky to have a pillow at all.

My friend brought in some personal items for me, including my walking stick. She gave them to a nurse at reception. They were left in my room but placed at the other side of the room where I couldn’t reach them.

I write this as I would like the staff who were supposed to be looking after me to recognise the impact that their actions and omissions had on me.

I was made to feel like I was a nuisance, like I didn’t matter. I was made to feel small and useless, dirty and vulnerable. I was humiliated, scared, lonely and for the first time in a long, long time I was now ‘disabled’. It was horrific, I cry every time I think of it.

I am able to speak out but what of those who can’t, those who have no voice due to their illness? This is especially important now when relatives and friends are not able to visit, who will advocate for these people?

Please don’t let others suffer the way I was made to suffer.