"Chose Blackburn as opposed to any other local..."

What I liked

Attended hospital with my 90 year old mother who was admitted as an emergency. We were in several departments and I cannot fault the service offered from a medical prospective. However the one aspect which proved a problem was the fact that my mother has alzheimers and her memory is very poor, and at every contact with hospital staff I had to explain the problem, and I felt that in most cases there was a lack of understanding about the desease and my mothers ability to understand what was happening. If I had been unable to stay with my mother she would have been very distressed and difficult.

The outcome for my mother was positive and she was able to return home. This is the third time my mother has been admitted and if the occasion was to rise again we would choose to return to Blackburn.

What could be improved

Training and guidlines for staff dealing with dementia/Alzheimers. Support for wards to monitor elderly patients so they are not left alone whist undergoing investigation or treatment.