"My dad was moved without my knowledge"

My father has dementia, I am his daughter and main carer.

He was admitted to A & E following a seizure.

Two days later he was transferred from the acute medical ward to another ward but this was without my knowledge as no one told me. This is where he has been for the last three weeks.

1. I found that the ward gave incorrect information to the care company that look after dad at home, telling them that he was about to be moved to a residential home – I believe they mixed him up with another patient on the ward.

2. Dad had an appointment for a hearing test which I took him to from the ward. Unfortunately it couldn’t be done and the ward was asked to refer him to the rapid access clinic at ENT. I had a call at home on the next evening to say that he had an appointment at 10.15 the next morning. I was assured that despite the fact I couldn’t be there, a porter would take him. I was informed that the ward forgot the appointment and had to make another one which was the next afternoon.

3. I visited dad again as I have been doing every day, didn’t leave until gone four. I was sure the staff acknowledged that I was there and yet the next day my husband went to visit to find dad had been moved to Cherry Tree Hospital and again I believe this took place without my knowledge. This had happened on an evening which was a cold and wet. Needless to say I phoned the ward to complain about this. I have had to move my dad over to the hospital for the appointment via taxi. I think surely they could have waited to move him at least until after this appointment.

Dad has dementia and is awaiting a place in a local residential home - I have spent the last three weeks trying to reassure him that he will not be moved anywhere without my knowledge and when the time comes I will be with him.

I was actually quite happy with the ward despite what had happened about the appointment but I am afraid I am no longer of that opinion. I think it’s absolutely dreadful that my dad, an elderly man with dementia or without for that matter to be moved anywhere without the next of kin being informed.