"Care of my mum"

My mum was admitted to Inverclyde Royal Hospital's J North ward. She has a chronic - as yet undiagnosed - condition, which has led in recent months to a dramatic reduction in her weight (she's now only around five and a half stones) and so she is someone who is very ill, and very fragile. There is a possibility of a gluten intolerance, so she has to adhere to a specific diet.

Although care from individual nurses and staff has been good, there has been a series of deficiencies in care that is unacceptable and has led me to feel that I have to write this.

My mum was to be given an MRI scan, and was taken down to the MRI department. Only when she got there did it transpire that she should have been given the 2 litres of liquid solution to drink in J North that morning in preparation for the procedure; in the MRI waiting area she was given 2 litres of solution to drink, she struggled through one litre, almost being sick as her condition means she finds it difficult to take food and liquid; By 4pm, after sitting in the MRI department all afternoon, it was decided that she wouldn't go through the scan because she hadn't taken enough of the liquid and the scan may not be effective as she had had to use the toilet. Also, concerningly, it transpired that the MRI staff had telephoned the ward three times in the morning to ask specifically that my mum be given the 2 litres of liquid drink in preparation for the scan.

Previously, my mum was to receive an MRI scan. Despite drinking the 2 litres of liquid in preparation for the scan, the scan did not happen. No information was given to my mum as to why the scan was postponed.

*Due to her being significantly underweight she was fitted with a feeding tube through the nose which is an uncomfortable and painful procedure. It then had to be removed as it was the 'wrong type' for the ward. A different one was then fitted, causing more pain and distress. It was so painful and distressing that my mum was in tears.

*Despite being given a gluten-free menu and told she can choose her meals, she is rarely given what she asks for, often being told "we don't have it", without any further explanation; at other times she doesn't receive all her meals.

*On other occasions she has been presented with food containing gluten, from staff who apparently don't realise she is on a specific diet.

*There has been an occasion when she was left without a water jug, only being given it when I asked for it at the nurses' station.

*I approached a member of staff at the nurses' station and asked to speak to a senior nurse about my mum's care. Although I was told someone would come and see me, I waited for 20 minutes and no one had approached me. Unfortunately, I couldn't wait any longer and had to leave, which is in part why I'm writing this now.

Individually, nurses have been excellent and caring with my mum, but there appears to be real communication problems between J North and other departments, and amongst staff members on the ward. This has led to situations of real distress for my mum and family members that has had a detrimental effect on my mum's health and wellbeing. Especially as she is someone with already significant health problems.