"Overworked staff and disjointed systems"

This is my opinion following my elderly, frail mothers 4 visits in a month. My overall impression was that the edict is get them out asap. The first time we took mum to A&E ourselves with a uti and chest infection. The doctor was really good but told us they wouldnt recommend she was admitted due to hospital infections. When we questioned this they then came back with we are short of beds as well. Mum came home with antibiotics. The next day my father who is the main carer couldnt get mum up and neither could we. He called the GP and eventually she was back in hospital.

I spent 30 minutes helping a nurse with all the information needed to complete a large document. Registered blind, not eating, stoma, self catheterising but unable to do this. Very weak. That night she fell and hit her head and badly bruised her face.

The information given was vital and should be put onto a computer, not a paper document i n this day and age. The staff try their best but dont seem to assess how well the patient is mentally. The fact my mum can barely see was not recorded above her bed, an important factor in her care and wellbeing.

Decisions seem to be made which dont make sense, such as removing her catheter to go back to self catheterising without even consulting us when she clearly cannot cope at the moment. Then telling my father she was ready to be discharged.

All this happened over 4 visits and caused stress to us all. Staff change so much there is no continuity, so records have to be spot on in my opinion. It is short term solutions to long term problems of how we cope with an ageing population. I totally respect the pressures in the NHS but it is inefficient, disjointed and wasteful. Most of the nursing staff do their best but that doesnt help when families are coping with stressful situations and are as tired as the staff.