"Still waiting for call"

Over the course of a week my Dad became agitated and heightened in his behaviour and increasing anxious. My Mum called their local surgery and he was given an appointment to see a Doctor and Nurse Practitioner. He was told he had a lung infection and was given a course of antibiotics.

By Saturday morning he had not improved and was becoming increasingly erratic in behaviour, confused and extremely anxious including becoming convinced that there was a gas leak and the street should be evacuated.

My Mum who by nature doesn’t want to bother anyone decided to call 111 at approximately 15:30. She waited in a queue for over 30 minutes. When the call was answered the person on the phone was so concerned by what they were hearing in the background they said they were calling for an Ambulance and Police to attend the home.

At this point my Mum described my Dad as going berserk, she locked all the doors of the house to stop him going outside, he then proceeded to go upstairs an try to climb out a bedroom window and was threatening to break all the windows and was shouting help so loudly neighbour’s from all around gathered to see what the commotion was. A neighbour came in and tried to help my mother calm my father down.

At approximately 17:00 two police officers arrived and sat with my Mum to protect her and keep an eye on my Dad. They sat for 3 hours, 2 hours past the end of their shift. They were relieved by another two officers who then sat with my parents until the Ambulance crew arrived at 22:00.

The Ambulance crew decided that a GP should be called to assess my Dad and then sat with my parents until the GP arrived between midnight and 01:00 (Sunday) he told the Ambulance crew they could go.

The GP then assessed my Dad and decided that he should go to hospital and called for an Ambulance which he was told would be within 2 hours. He left, My parents next door neighbour then came in and sat with my Mum until my Dad eventually tired himself out and fell asleep. My Mum than sat in silence frightened to move or go to sleep in case she missed the Ambulance or my Dad woke up.

The Ambulance then arrived at 11:00 and took my Dad in to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

I arrived from Orkney at 18:00 and took my Mum into the hospital to visit my Dad in Ward 101. He was very confused but recognised us.

A very nice nurse apologised to my Mum for everything that had happened to them.

Another nurse informed us that they didn’t know what was causing my Dads’ confusion and he didn’t have any infection, a chest x-ray was clear as was his bloods.

We were told he would be moved to Ward 102.

Monday morning we tried to call ward 102 to get an update on his condition and check when to visit. When we eventually got through we were told we couldn’t visit until his Covid test was back and they had no idea when that would be, call later.

I had to leave Aberdeen to drive 6 hours to catch a ferry home to try and make arrangements to be able to travel back to Aberdeen for an extended visit.

I called my Mum to find out how things were but friends had called round so I called her back when I got off the ferry.

She informed me that she had tried calling Ward 102 for 90 minutes to find out if it was safe for her to visit.

She gave up and decided just to head to the hospital.

On arrival she was admitted after being questioned as to why she hadn’t made an appointment.

When she down beside my Father a Doctor joined them and in front of my Father told my my Mother he was being discharged to her care that afternoon as there was nothing they could do for him, they didn’t have room for him and he would probably get on better at home and be less anxious.

She was told that his infection was showing signs of clearing up. Yes that’s the infection that Ward 101 said didn’t exist.

My Mother then had to tell the Doctor in front of my Father why she didn’t want to take him, that she didn’t feel safe with him in the house and had to explain to the Doctor what had happened over the previous 48 hours. He said he would talk to his supervisor and they would give my Mother a call.

Still waiting…….