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"My late wifes treatment"

About: Forest Holme

(as a carer),

My wife  was diagnosed with Mouth Cancer in January of 2021  and from that day forward i promised her i would give her 100% attention and that i did  . endless trips to the hospital  radiation treatment  doctors  and pharmacies   became whole part of normal life and  cooking food for her that was digestible  and at the same time look palipalatable but we done it

And this is how it stayed until late in may when she went in to Forest holme Poole of her own accord  walked in with the aid of a stick  and we were both looking forward to some treatment to improve her illness  , we were both aware that she was going to die  but there were no plans in place for this happening  so soon  remember that only two days earlier  she had been shopping in the local supermarket and all was well  so you can imagine my thoughts  when all of a sudden  there was this rapid decline in her condition 

When i took her in she was placid quiet and understanding  and i stayed with her lunch time  and and all still well  she seemed her normal self and as happy as she could be  , i left  and came back teatime as was the case everyday to find that she was put on a pureed food diet and when it arrived  it looked disgusting  and not fit for human consumption needless to say she never attempted to eat it and that was the case all the way through her stay at Forest Holme

The following day  i arrived to find she had  a DOLs placed on her  and also crying as a result of  verbal abuse   remember we are talking about a girl  that is  so gentle and placid in life having worked in the care industry looking after the sick and elderly  i was horrified  me thinking that i was taking her into a place of love and care and consideration  but no

When she went in i promised i would take her to see her garden her ducks and above all her cat this was her love in life to say maybe her final good byes  and i was denied every day i asked  and for that i will never forgive Forest Holme  and till this day i will never understand  how in just thirteen days  she went from a girl that was managing her cancer  to be taken out in a body bag at the end of the first week of  june  all my dreams  shattered  and i guess hers  . we felt certain  we had more time to play with and nobody told us different   Also having visted her every dinner time and every tea time  i did not see her eat any of the pureed food in any vist  so begs the question  did lack of food  contribute to her un doing

I have apologized to her many times since her death  and i have cried many many times about her death and the way  it all turned out  and the way she was treated  Tears fill my eyes  as i finish this 

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Responses

Response from Saskie Dorman, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Forest Holme Hospice, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust 2 years ago
Saskie Dorman
Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Forest Holme Hospice,
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Doctor

Submitted on 23/08/2022 at 18:11
Published on Care Opinion on 24/08/2022 at 09:45


picture of Saskie Dorman

Dear frosttt87,

Thank you for writing, especially at such a sad time. I can only imagine how hard it was to write.

I’m so sorry for the distress you and your wife experienced in the last weeks of her life. I'm sorry too that things changed so quickly that she wasn't able to see her garden, her ducks and her cat again and say her final goodbyes.

What you've written has been shared with the team at Forest Holme. You describe several issues which are important we address.

We recognise it may be upsetting to talk about your and your wife's experiences further, but we would very much value the opportunity to meet with you. If you would be willing for this, we can be contacted at forest.holme@uhd.nhs.uk or on 0300 019 8115.

With best wishes,

Saskie

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Response from Saskie Dorman, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Forest Holme Hospice, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust 2 years ago
We have made a change
Saskie Dorman
Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Forest Holme Hospice,
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Doctor

Submitted on 09/04/2023 at 15:30
Published on Care Opinion on 10/04/2023 at 09:12


picture of Saskie Dorman

Dear frosttt87,

Thank you so much for meeting us at Forest Holme Hospice and also for our recent phone call.

Your feedback is making a real difference in several ways. For example, we now have a blender for use on the ward, so that pureed food and smoothies can be freshly prepared so they're as appetising as possible.

Thanks again for sharing your and your wife's experiences, and for all you're doing to support Forest Holme - we really appreciate it.

With best wishes,

Saskie

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