"The negative experiences out weigh the positive."

My elderly mother was admitted to the Royal Gwent at the beginning of July. Mum is completely deaf and does not wear heaing aids. The family communicate with her by writing on a pad. This was explained to the staff, both nursing and doctors. They failed to communicate with mum in this way. I believe no one took the time to establish that mum understood what was happening or what what was required of her. She was said to be non compliant. The family found this frustrating and even offered to help to explain things to mum.

After a CT scan, mum was referred to a neurologist. There was then talk of mum being discharged before she has seen the neurologist. Mum developed diarrhoea and was moved to a room on her own. Towards the end of July the family were told that mum would be staying in hospital for at least another week. Yet the next day she was discharged back to her care home. My sister was sat with mum for over an hour and a half before the nurse informed her that mum was being discharged. The social worker was not told of mum's discharge. Mum has muscle wastage and cannot pull herself out of the chair. No physio was arranged.

Most important mum still had diarrhoea and had had if for more than 10 days before her discharge. Less than two weeks later, mum had been re-admitted to the Royal Gwent with C difficile. There was a reluctance to admit mum into hospital and my sister waited with mum until a bed was available. Even some of the staff on the ward seemed reluctant to have her there. My sister found the whole experience upsetting.

This will be mum's fourth stay in hospital since March. When she was discharged in May she had diarrhoea which infected other residents in the home.

The family feel that some levels of caring are certainly lacking, though this does not apply to all of the staff. We were fortunate to meet some very kind and helpdful staff members. Though the negative experiences out weigh the positive.

A suggestion- after discharge could patients not be given a survey to evaluate their stay in hosptial. This would provide feedback.