"Shambolic"

My father (93 and suffering from dementia), who has since passed away, was initially taken to Carlisle by ambulance on Boxing Day as he was in great pain after a fall. He was seen promptly, x-rayed, and diagnosed with a pubic rami fracture. As this is treated with bed rest they decided to transfer him to Maryport Cottage Hospital. At Maryport the staff were all very pleasant and caring and seemed efficient but after 2 days they decided that he needed to be treated in an acute hospital as he needed intravenous medication and nutrition and arranged a transfer late at night. They told me that he would go straight to a ward. When I went to visit him the next afternoon I could not get a straight answer from anyone but I believe he had spent the night in A&E and only arrived on the ward late in the morning. The canula for his intravenous drugs was inserted while I was there some 16 hours or so after he had been transferred for the sole purpose of getting intravenous fluids and medication. I left contact details with the staff but when I arrived the next day to see him he had moved to another ward, and none of the contact information had gone with him. He had however gained a dressing gown and £13 in cash - I told the staff that these were not his but the just said that they had come with him from the other ward and showed no interest - this would be funny if it wasn't so indicative of the general disorganisation. He then moved again to a third ward, where once again his contact details did not go with him. When my sister asked to check them they produced details of my mother, who died 18 months ago, and my dad's own phone number. We were told that he would need to stay in for a few days before discharge could be considered. But when we told his consultant that we had a bed waiting for him in a private nursing home that would be self-funded they transferred him the same day!