"Nobody is taking control "

My mother is 90 and suffers from Parkinson’s, dementia, osteoporosis and a degree of dysphagia.

She is Level c medication which is given by care worker. In May 13 she was admitted to DGRI and as a result her co-careldopa, digoxin, paracetamol were dispensed in suspension form.

Since then, almost on a weekly basis there have been nothing but problems with either the medication running out or significant quantities of medication left over.

An investigation was carried out early on by the hospital pharmacist at the Infirmary which resulted in digoxin being given as a tablet with others remaining in suspension form.

However, problems have continued to occur and in early January the care worker told me that the paracetamol had run out. The care worker went to the pharmacist (local chemist) for more but was told that the correct amount had been dispensed and that it was the care worker’s problem and that no more would be dispensed.

My mother is piggy in the middle with the chemist and the care worker blaming each other but nobody taking control of the situation and sorting it out. The shortage last week was 30 mls which is the equivalent of 6 paracetamol and I am concerned about what has happened to this. None of the agencies appear to accept that there is a serious situation.

30mls is not unusual for the shortage or the excess. I am most concerned. What do I do?