"My dad's stroke"

My dad had a severe stroke around 2 months ago, he was initially treated at Ninewells Hospital and we were very happy with the treatment he received and visiting hours. This was a major thing to happen to us as a family as a whole and being able to be there for dad to support him and also being able to speak to doctors and nurses as any time was a great help. 

When dad was medically stable he was transferred to PRI Stroke Rehabilitation Unit. Our first experience and impression of the unit was not good, when we arrived there was nobody about to talk to about how dad was doing or what the facility was like/what to expect. (what treatment he would receive while there or what was offered) Visiting hours were very restricted which was very worrying for us about dads mental health and ours. When we were able to visit there was rarely anybody around, doctors or nurses to speak to about him and as dad was unable to speak he couldn’t tell us himself and was very isolating for him. We had to request a ‘ get to know you form’ which was filled out and retuned but seemed as though was put in a file and not looked at as a few days later we were offered us one or three forms. 

However we have been able to voice our concerns and some seem to have been taken on board. As dad has now started to settle in to the routine of the unit and staff have started to get to know his personality and have a laugh and joke with him. That’s great as it really cheers him up, some of the staff go above and beyond to encourage him and treat him like anyone else. 

Visiting hours have recently also been relaxed which is great for the whole family, it allows us to attend some physio sessions and be with/support him even more. Although I would say at the weekends dad does often get very down with the break in physio and speech and language sessions. Especially on long weekends such as bank holidays, he is in a room on his own and often left alone for long periods of time during these days out with visiting hours when we would be there. It doesn’t make sense to me in this day and age that we don’t have people to carry out these sessions 7 days a week. 

We still don’t often get to see doctors while we visit but some of the nurses are good at telling us how dad has been throughout the day. We have a little notepad which we use to write down any questions and often speech and language and physio therapists write notes on how dad did in his sessions that day which is really helpful as dad can’t tell us. 

It will be a long journey for us all but recently we have had a much more positive view of the unit and dads care has been really great, the physio and speech and language sessions are brilliant.