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Care Opinion

Discharge with integrated Care Support

Posted By Big Toe

"Discharge with integrated Care Support"

About: North Lanarkshire Council Scottish Ambulance Service / Emergency Ambulance University Hospital Monklands

(as a friend),

An elderly relative with dementia had been taken by ambulance on two occasions following a fall within her property.

On the second occasion paramedics attended, check blood pressure, cardio and left her with her son in the property. The son could not get his mother out of bed and she required assistance to be taken to the toilet. The family were concerned and called an out of hours GP, who after examining her, called for an Ambulance for her to be taken to Monklands.

She was admitted and had X-Rays and was moved from ED / AAU to a Ward

Later in the afternoon Physio attended and got her to walk with a 'frame' and advised that she was okay to be discharged and return to her home with two 'frames'. One for upstairs and one for downstairs.

Surely the Doctor / Senior Charge Nurse should have checked her file and noted that she is diagnosed with dementia and is being prescribed medication. Whilst in their care, they had a duty of care to ensure that a suitable care package was in place prior to her discharge.

She was returned to her property.

The following day, her sisters visited and found her in the upstairs lounge, still in the same seat from the previous day and soiled. She could not stand unaided and had been unable to reach her toilet.

Whilst her sisters were present, a social care worker who attends to make her lunch, stated that she should never have been discharged in that condition, without the Hospital liaising with Social Services to provide an integrated Care Support.

I am disgusted that my relative has being discharged and returned home whilst unable to care for themselves. This has resulted in two admissions and discharges in under 24 hours and will more than likely result in a further admission when she falls again.

I am totally disgusted at the discharge process and treatment of a dementia patient, I think it is an absolute disgrace - so much for Integrated Care and NHS 20:20 Vision. Where is the Patient Care, Patient First in the above.....you tell me.

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Responses

Update posted by Big Toe (a friend)

Please refer to Part 2 for an update....

https://www.careopinion.org.uk/opinions/408134

Again, discharged immediately, resulting in a further Ambulance trip back to Monklands Hospital.

Priority on bed numbers / bed capacity instead of patient care, diagnosis and treatment?

Response from Martin Esposito, Consultant Paramedic - Major Trauma, Clinical Directorate, Scottish Ambulance Service 6 years ago
Martin Esposito
Consultant Paramedic - Major Trauma, Clinical Directorate,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 26/10/2017 at 14:03
Published on Care Opinion on 27/10/2017 at 14:00

picture of Martin Esposito

Dear Big Toe

Thank you for sharing the experience of your relative on Care Opinion and I am very sorry for the delay in replying to your post.

From an ambulance service perspective, without knowing the clinical details of the case it is difficult to comment on why your relative was not taken to hospital by the second ambulance crew. What I do know is that attending an Emergency Department can be a particularly stressful experience for patients with Dementia and their families, and can have a detrimental effect on their health. Therefore, depending on the nature of the emergency call we may try and arrange for the patient to be managed at home. From my own experience, I know this can sometimes be a complex and difficult decision to reach, balancing any clinical needs against the negative effects of conveying a patient with dementia from their home to a hospital setting,

Whatever the reasoning on that day, it seems clear that your relative did need to be in hospital and I am extremely sorry that the ambulance service contributed to the difficulties that your relative experienced. I appreciate this must have been extremely frustrating for all of the family.

I would like to look into this a bit further and be able to provide you with an explanation of what happened on that day, Please can I ask you to can contact me at martinesposito@nhs.net

In the mean time I do hope that your relative has received the care she required and is recovering well.

Take care.

Martin.

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Response from Lesley Mallon, Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 6 years ago
Lesley Mallon
Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 27/10/2017 at 14:48
Published on Care Opinion at 15:03

picture of Lesley Mallon

Dear Big Toe

Thank you for providing an update relating to your experience at Monklands Hospital. I was very sorry to read of the difficulties your family has encountered. I note that Eileen Clarke, Senior Nurse, has responded to Part 2 of your post, and I would reiterate Eileen's offer to get in touch to allow us to discuss your experience in greater detail.

As previously intimated, if you would like to avail yourself of this opportunity please contact Patient Affairs Department on 01236 713065.

Best wishes.

Lesley

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