"Ridgeway Ward"

Following surgery after a broken hip, one of our residents (from our residential home) was admitted to the above ward. Staff from the hospital had contacted the care home to say she was ready to be discharged and in their own words, they needed the bed. I attended the ward with my colleague to assess the lady to ensure that we were able to meet her needs before accepting her home. After being told she was able to be discharged, mobilising short distances, eating and drinking well and ready to go home asap, on arrival we found out otherwise. We were greeted with a patient that couldn't get out of bed due to her pain restrictions (only paracetamol had been given that morning) it was now 12.10pm and clearly needed pain relief. This patient was given 1 drink that morning according to paperwork and nothing whilst we were there. Fortunately I was able to assist small amounts of fluid whilst there. Our patient had drank no more that 200ml by 3pm. Nurses and carers should have been assisting and prompting regular fluids at minimum. 1.30pm and everybody on the ward has eaten their lunch but our patient was having personal care whilst the meals were given so.. tough luck, she was missed. Missed!

No lunch offered, no snack offered, no drink offered, nothing. Forgotten until a carer had overhead me asking my resident if she was hungry. Whilst being at the hospital, our resident had a vacant, unresponsive episode, doctor stood around like a lost lamb. Finally a decision was made and an ECG was done. 2 hours later, no communication and still awaiting to find out results. Communication was dire. You would expect Confidentiality and dignified care at the very minimum but the rest of the ward now knows she has 2 pressure sores and the nurse made it quite clear that they had run out of a basic barrier cream - medi honey and the ward next door had also run out. Patients were not watched when tablets were being taken. My residents medication that she was admitted with was left on the cabinet where clearly she could have administered her own, despite not having capacity - this could have been detrimental. Our resident was addressed as Mrs **** rather than being addressed by a shortened first name as requested. Over hearing the nurses at the nursing station, myself and my colleague found out that our resident had previously had an unresponsive episode and received a visit from elderly care and the stroke staff - No information about her vacant episodes, nor her inability to feed herself, nor the fact she has 2 pressure sores, nor the fact that this lady is seriously unwell was passed onto our staff at the care home. discharging somebody with grade 2 pressure sores and stroke symptoms didn't phase or seem important to the nurses so they decided not to inform the home. Nurse in charge complaining of being short staffed. Half an hour wait for analgesia despite staff lingering around like a bad smell. Disgusting 'care' - if you can call it that.