"Care of my 91 year old Mother"

My Mother was admitted to the hospital on 21st May following a fall at the Assisted Living Care Home she was living in, with a cut to the back of her head. She died in the hospital on 3rd June. During her stay she was in A&E, the Medical Assessment Unit, the Short Stay Medical Ward, Heron Unit and Maple Ward. At every point of contact from the nurses, doctors, health care assistants and caterers she was treated with the utmost dignity and respect. As her daughter, every day when I visited I was informed of how she was and what the plan was for her care and discharge. On 1st of June we were informed that my Mother had taken a turn for the worse and when I got the hospital the F2, Registrar and Consultant all listened to my request for all active treatment to be stopped. The Palliative Care Team were there within the hour and had arranged for a syringe driver to be put up. During her final hours we were made to feel cared for and looked after by all the staff. I will be forever grateful that at the end my Mother felt safe being in hospital, a place which she had always feared dying in. As a health care professional I am all too aware of how many people die feeling frightened, not listened to, and uncared for. My heartfelt thanks to all the staff at St. Peter's who allowed my Mother and her family to have peace.