"Unsafe Discharge Planning"

My mother is registered blind and has very poor mobility and also had delirium and was discharged home from ward 17 without a care package in place and no medication.  The ward staff did not know who was providing the care package as the therapist had not informed them. The ambulance arrived before the medication and she was sent home without it.

 When I contacted the care provider who previously attended mum, they had not received any referral from the OT. I contacted the out of hours social work team who stated no referral had been received from  the occupational therapist or ward.  The out of hours duty worker arranged for emergency carers to put mum to bed. The volunteer service Saving Lives delivered her medication.

I live 110 miles away and if I didn't come you see how she was, mum  would have spent all night in her armchair where the ambulance staff left her.

 

This was a very poor and unsafe discharge which could have been avoided with clear communication between agencies and ourselves and  careful scrutiny that care was in place before discharge from hospital was implemented. 

I feel extremely let down by the therapist who was coordinating her care and hope no one else has this experience, and the ward can improve on its processes and involve relatives in the discharge process.