"Worse on discharge than when admitted."

What I liked

This is about the treatment of my elderly mother who was admitted to the RLI. The Health Care Assistants were excellent. They passed on more information about my mother's care than the nursing staff. They looked after her with care and dignity. They were cheerful and worked hard.

What could be improved

How to treat elderly patients with mental health difficulties for a start. The Consultant? Waste of time. Not once did he bother to call the rest of the family to discuss my mother's care. What is the point of asking questions of someone who has no idea of what is wrong with them? Nursing Staff? They gave her the wrong drugs. They gave her the wrong dosage. Physiotherapists? Brought the wrong equipment but never mind, lets use it anyway! And when it doesn't work... oh well, we'll discharge her.

What could be improved...Check the drug sheet. Make sure people can reach and are eating the food and drink that are on their tables. Talk to their family about the tests they have had when they have a diagnosis of a condition that gives them limited mental capacity. Use the right equipment. And please, please don't discharge someone just because you need the bed and can't find another ward for them. It's quite disgusting.

Anything else?

My mother came out of this hospital worse than she went in. She was discharged when she shouldn't have been. We have no idea about half of the things she had done while she was in their as no-one bothered to speak to us half the time. YES, we did keep asking, but the Staff were always soooo busy, someone would get back to us. Still waiting.

Don't bother.

Of course there were very good individuals, but they really were the exception. There really is a very bad culture in there.