"Let's hope some other poor, vulnerable elderly patient doesn't have to endure this"

Mum was an emergency admission to Wishaw General Hospital where she was cared for by caring and compassionate nursing & medical staff. Following diagnosis of bowel cancer, she was moved around a week later, to Strathclyde Suite in Motherwell. The family were advised that this move was for assessment with a view to referral to mum's local nursing home.

From the outset, mum felt very unhappy, frightened & depressed being here. She was placed in an isolated, single room, confined to her bed, with no facility to allow her any independence. Prior to this, mum was able to use a zimmer to help her mobility but this was withdrawn, which distressed her greatly.

Staff also told us that mum wasn't going to be assessed & was there for palliative care.

Any option to socialise mum was that the staff took her into the communal day room. While she & her family acknowledged that the other patients were very frail, elderly people, possibly suffering from dementia, mum found the experience extremely upsetting.

Possibly the most disturbing aspect of all, was the attitude of some of the staff (please note, not all). Mum had asked a carer their name and was met with a rude response & then walked away without telling mum their name. There was also another incident where Mum reprimanded a carer for the way she had been spoken to.

Mum had also asked to be taken out of the day room to use the toilet, but was left for a further 30-40 minutes before she had to remind staff & was sharply asked what she wanted now. Mum had been diagnosed with bowel cancer & was having problems with her toilet so this was very concerning that she was having to repeatedly ask to be taken to the toilet. She was so distressed that she would soil herself.

Although mum's physical health was failing, her mental cognitive capacity never failed, so she was fully aware of everything that was around her.

Unfortunately- although we looked on it as a blessing in disguise- mum developed a chest & urine infection after a few days & had to be transferred back to Wishaw General hospital & her mental health immediately improved.

Unfortunately mum passed away, but the last weeks of her life were spent surrounded by the most caring & compassionate medical & nursing staff at wishaw- she was also able to be in 4 bedded rooms so always had the company of other patients when they all interacted.

I felt so strongly about the complete opposite "care" provided at Strathclyde Suite. We & mum were adamant that she would never be returned to that place.

Let's hope some other poor, vulnerable elderly patient doesn't have to endure this appalling experience at the end of their lives.