"Lack of holistic care"

My elderly father was admitted via ambulance in July with abdominal pain.  He was assessed in ambulance triage, received regular pain relief, abdominal x-rays and CT scan. I was allowed  to stay with him - he was for admission. The ambulance staff , nursing staff were  diligent and communication was good and the nurse in charge ensured a bed was obtained for my dad.

The area itself was not conducive  to looking after  an ill patient , there was no privacy, people out on corridors  causing disarray, to a staff under pressure. The environment for staff is below  par, the emergency dept is the gateway to the rest of the hospital and is abysmal. My father needed a commode.  He was in pain but it took 40 minutes to find one.

I left at 7:00am.  He was transferred  to yellow area.  Later that day he rang distressed, I was allowed over to sit with him, I can only describe the area as 'Bedlam.' In the next cubicle  was a person who was very unwell, and who came through via the curtain division. I left my father, concerned about the oversensory effects of the area. The area would not inspire from an infection control perspective, it was overcrowded and had no toilets.

Early the next morning he rang distressed.  He felt the person next to him was going to harm him and he felt vulnerable. The security  team had been called to this incident. I spoke to the nurse but there was no ward bed.  I informed them of my concerns but was not able to come in and sit with him. I understood the rationale for limited visitors, but a vulnerable adult should be taken into consideration. I informed the staff that my dad had a history of sensory disorientation, due to hospital admission, but I felt he was just a number and they lacked empathy  to this situation. 

At 10:30pm I was called by staff as my father had become confused and was awaiting a surgical doctor to be assessed.  I was allowed  in to stay with him until 02:00 when he slept.

The following  morning he was transferred to 4 south.

During this stay my father had to use toilet.  He was taken to one  which was out of order; no commode could be found. When the single toilet became available, he had to dispose of his undergarment, which added to his distress.

I rang a number of times. My father was  unable to use a mobile. Limited information was communicated.

There is limited holistic intervention by most staff, which is sad.

I was relieved when I spoke to the staff nurse on 4 south, because they had looked after my dad before and my father felt safe.

I appreciate  ED, wards are under pressure but the physical environment makes it difficult to provide the care most of the staff want to provide.

Craigavon  Area Hospital is 50 yrs old , its ED area has not improved to the extent that is needed, with DHH not taking surgical  emergencies, further pressure is being put on an area that is already on its knees. 

The ED should be the heart of the hospital.  I worry for the future, sad that the staff want to provide good care, but holistic care is not possible.  It feels like people that have lost heart and passion and it has become a tick box culture.

I will add the ambulance  team were courteous and efficient, and clinically  my father was managed quickly within the first few hours by nursing staff and the doctor who assessed  him.