" human compassion and genuine care would have gone a long way"

My Nan had a fall which she described as minor but left her bed ridden. We went to A&E at Good Hope where they did an Xray and found that there were no fractures or breaks which we thought to be good news. Even though my nan could only walk a few steeps she was really pleased she could go home.

This was the just the beginning, I thought nan would get better after a little rest and pain killers but after 2 weeks of zero mobility we decided she needed a second opinion due to the excruciating pain when she tried to walk. It was then she was admitted into ward 18 with "arthritis " and a water infection and detox as she loved her sherry.

I know now why older people fear hospital and I was naive to think otherwise. We visited every day and we found it very hard to find out what she is being treated for and there was no consultation as to the effects of the treatment. It was as if all symptoms are simply treated with medication. The complaint is this pure lack of care, a nurse or medical person should have asked my nan how is she doing or just some conversation to put her at ease, the same goes for the family visiting. At no time did any nurses or doctors make an attempt to communicate how she is or how the treatment is going. We had push to get any updates which were not good enough, typical answer yes we have given your nan all her medication today. Nursing is now giving out substances and completing paperwork.

My nan was not encouraged to eat and drink (marked down as asleep for most meals) she was heavily effected by the medication prescribed. She sadly passed away on the 11th day in their "care" due to a chest infection which to me was obvious 24 hrs before she died (we was told the following morning there was nothing left to do).

She was 85 years old and she will be missed greatly. To treat an elderly person this way is to make them feel they have no way of recovering. I am sure human compassion and genuine care would have gone a long way to helping a kind lady, sadly this was non existent. We are in shock.