"Short stay no help at all"

I have a long term lung disease & have had Pneumonia twice. The last time, a couple of years ago, I was admitted to a respiratory ward & the treatment I received at North Tees was excellent & they pulled me through. i am on a lot of medication & ambulatory oxygen at home.

Just over two weeks ago (February 2019) I arrived early morning by ambulance (excellent care by paramedics) with infectious excarbation & taken to AEU. Diagnosed & sent home that afternoon with antibiotics to be looked after by Hospital at Home nurses. Became steadily worse & 3 days later nurses advised I phone for ambulance again. Taken again to AEU. Chest xray & bloods tests taken (no sputum sample). I was put on oxygen in bed but needed someone to help me to the bathroom as I needed oxygen to walk. I was also prsecribed nebulisers to aid breathing. Was moved to Ward 36 later that evening where I received help to attend the bathroom during the night but when the day shift came on that was it. Pressing the buzzer was useless as no one appeared to be answering anyone's buzzer. I had to take my oxygen off to go to the bathroom which really took it out of me & left me feeling ill. There were no nebulisers forthcoming. The meds were brought around & there were no prednisilone precribed for me. Given that I have been on these for years with a maintainence dose & was on a high dose at this time because of the excarbation they cannot just be stopped The nurse was arguing with me saying because they were not prescribed I could not have them. Eventually he realised that I was talking sense & spoke to the doctor who then prescribed the medication that had been overlooked. This could have been dangerous if I had not been aware of what was going on. I did not receive an identity band & was told someone would get me one but that too was never forthcoming.Later that day I was told I could go home under the care of the Hospital at Home nurses. A young doctor told me I was dehydrated & to drink plenty. While he was playing to his audience of nurses he did not manage to answer any questions that I asked.

My husband arrived to take me home but the nurse went to look for the keys for the cupboard to give me my meds that I had brought in with me. We sat & waited about 1/2 an hour. Eventually the nurse appeared but had forgotten about the keys so we waited a further 10 mins. I was given my bag with the discharge letter etc & told I could go. I took off my oxygen myself. My husband had to go & find a wheelchair, leave me at the main entrance while he got the car.

The only treatment I received was one intravenous antibiotic & a prescription for a course of oral antibiotics,two nebulisers, 24 hour 2 litre oxygen which was just stopped when I left.

I agree that people should be treated at home if possible but I have been really ill this time & have not picked up as well as I should have. I am positive if I had received care in a respiratory ward I would be much improved by now.