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Care Opinion

Poor Hospital Discharge

Posted By C03

"Poor Hospital Discharge"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Elderly Medicine (Wards 51, 52, 54,55, 57, 8a & 2a)

(as a relative),

My 94 year old grandmother was discharged from hospital to her care home, dressed in only a dirty cardigan and pants, even though her bag in her room locker contained plenty of clean clothing. To make matters worse on her arrival to the care home she was incredibly sick and appeared to be in no fit state for discharge. We were also not informed of her discharge from hospital, we were actually on our way to the hospital to visit when the care home contacted us to advise she had just arrived there and were we aware of this. Having seen her the day before in the hospital, still on oxygen and incredibly unwell battling pneumonia, we were shocked to say the least she had been let go of, never mind the fact we had not been notified. My mother has brought this to the attention of the charge nurse on duty at the time via phone, who advised they would investigate what went wrong. But to discharge a frail, very unwell woman like this is simply disgusting.

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 7 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 19/01/2017 at 07:55
Published on Care Opinion at 08:48

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear CO3

Thank you for taking the time to post on Patient Opinion.

I am upset and disappointed to read about you Grandmother’s experience and can you please pass on my apologies to her. We aim to treat all our patients with care and compassion whilst maintaining their dignity and I am sorry that this was not what your Grandmother experienced.

I will share your comments with the General Manager and ask that they respond to the issues that you have raised in your post. To be able to provide you with more detailed feedback about what you have described, could you please email me at Nicole.McInally@ggc.scot.nhs.uk with your Grandmother’s personal details.

I hope your Grandmother is recovering from the pneumonia.

Best wishes

Nicole

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Response from Ian Reeves, Consultant Physician, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde 7 years ago
Ian Reeves
Consultant Physician,
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

I'm one of the doctors in the medicine for the elderly dept. i.reeves@nhs.net

Submitted on 19/01/2017 at 08:58
Published on Care Opinion at 09:12

picture of Ian Reeves

Dear CO3

I'd like to apologise on behalf of our staff to you and your grandmother for the care she experienced, and the distress you suffered as a direct result of this.

We should investigate this further, and would be grateful if you give us more details, either via Nicole, or myself. Even if you don't want to give us the full details, even the ward involved would be helpful.

I am on I.reeves@nhs.net or 07870 825953

It's hearing stories like yours that can help improve things for other people in the future.

Ian Reeves

Image title

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Response from Ian Reeves, Consultant Physician, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde 7 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Ian Reeves
Consultant Physician,
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

I'm one of the doctors in the medicine for the elderly dept. i.reeves@nhs.net

Submitted on 20/01/2017 at 00:34
Published on Care Opinion at 10:06

picture of Ian Reeves

Dear CO3

Thank you for emailing us with more details.

I can now see the relevant ward and discharge process for your Grandmother in QEUH on our electronic health record, and I will email you directly with some suggestions of how we investigate this for you.

I can see that your grandmother was very frail, and needed our best care, not just 'any care' and I'm sorry that she did not receive this.

I hope her health or dignity has not been adversely affected as a result.

We will investigate this further for you, with the aim to help others in the future.

Thank you again for sharing your story on Patient Opinion.

Ian ReevesImage title

I.reeves@nhs.net

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