"Not a lot. My brother has MS and ..."

What I liked

Not a lot. My brother has MS and was moved to Durham from Newcastle and from the day he arrived it was as if they just wanted him out. He can only move one arm and is fed through a tube in his stomach and cannot talk. In the time he was at Durham (he was there before going to Newcastle) he had 1 bed bath, it appears that he only got washed when the family wiped him with wet wipes. He had a splint that was put on too tight that his thumb swelled up, went purple and had a massive blister on it. We discovered this when visiting as his hand was under the covers, we lifted it out and saw it. When nursing staff were informed they said they did not know about it and would get it looked at. It was left to burst 4 days later. It was stated they didnt want to burst it as it would leave a scar-based on the fact that he cant walk, talk, lift himself up or speak, a scar on his thumb is not really a big issue. when he left hospital 2 months after an operation he still had blood and scabs in his hair from the operation as it had never been washed.

What could be improved

Communication with family, time spent with patients, actually following up requests to deal with brothers' thumb, hygiene for patient. I believe that the staff do the best job that they can but with the resources available I dont think it is possible to give patients the care and attention they may need

Anything else?

After being put in a care home my brother needed further treatment at the hospital. After a week he was diagnosed with MRSA. A leaflet was left by his bed and his wife saw it and went to see a nurse. If she had not done I doubt she would have been informed as they did not telephone her.