Hello. I had a similar process alignment issue with my now poor departed Dad. In the BRI. One example - A feeding tube was required a couple of weeks after admission due to an unrelated issue of being unable to swallow properly.
Monday. Nasal gastric tube inserted whilst Dad was on the ward. Awaited appointment at x-Ray to ensure it was located in the right place. Few hours later, wheeled from ward to x-Ray. Tube not in right place. Dad wheeled back to bed. Doctor arrives next day, tube moved, await X-ray, doctor arrives next day. This went on until Thursday whereupon I lost my shit as it was clear Dad was fading through lack of nutrition. Asked if doctor could be present at X-ray and make the necessary adjustments in situ in the X-ray department - seemed like a more efficient way of managing the process. This wasn’t done but the next time the doctor visited after said losing of my shit, the doctor aspirated the tube to check pH levels and lo and behold the tube was finally in the right place and feeding could begin. 4 days and numerous ping pong journeys between ward doctor and X-ray and Dad wheeled around the hospital by a porter each time. Often missing his once-a-day-turn-up-whenever physio slot.
What an absolute waste of time, resources, money and more importantly a stress for the patient and family. What was worse, NO ONE I SPOKE TO CARED. For sure they apologised each time I pointed out a failing, but nothing changed.
Despite all the staff being constantly glued to a computer, whenever I asked a question about Dad’s condition, treatment or general comfort no one could ever give me an answer without saying “I’m not looking after him, you’ll have to speak to nurse xyz” all the nurses had scrappy bits of paper with handwritten patient notes scribbled on them.
Asking about pathways for Dads care when he left hospital - no department was joined up - Dad was stuck in the respiratory ward, when he should have been in ENT for the impact of previous surgery (he had a total laryngectomy 13 years ago) or Elderly care and there was no synchronisation of information to relay to Dad’s family.
I experienced shrugging of shoulders when asking for care for my Dad, I was told sometimes they were too busy to provide pain relief, and we experienced awful levels of cleanliness and hygiene in Dad’s side room. He got covid in hospital. He recovered from covid. He fought though frail.
He was admitted after a fall which resulted in a broken clavicle. He was admitted fully independent. He died 6 weeks later having been left in bed for almost all if that time. An occasional once a day if you were lucky visit from physio to get him out of bed onto his chair. He was never helped to the toilet and passed away incontinent.
Dad lived independently for 13 years after his laryngectomy yet deteriorated in a matter of weeks in hospital, admitted because if s broken shoulder and was left totally dependent on hospital staff and his family. His family provided many of his basic care requirements quite simply because there wasn’t enough staff each day servicing the needs of patients. I’m some ways Dad was fortunate he had family who could provide this care. Others did not.
Shame on the NHS management and the political leaders of this country. The system is systemically broken but by saying “the NHS is free at the point of need” does not address its fractured core, nor provide a service fit for purpose in many many cases.
That’s a terrible story Liz. Hard to believe in the 21stC that we now have what seems like a system you’d expect to find in an emerging nation rather than this. Thanks for sharing.
Hello. I had a similar process alignment issue with my now poor departed Dad. In the BRI. One example - A feeding tube was required a couple of weeks after admission due to an unrelated issue of being unable to swallow properly.
Monday. Nasal gastric tube inserted whilst Dad was on the ward. Awaited appointment at x-Ray to ensure it was located in the right place. Few hours later, wheeled from ward to x-Ray. Tube not in right place. Dad wheeled back to bed. Doctor arrives next day, tube moved, await X-ray, doctor arrives next day. This went on until Thursday whereupon I lost my shit as it was clear Dad was fading through lack of nutrition. Asked if doctor could be present at X-ray and make the necessary adjustments in situ in the X-ray department - seemed like a more efficient way of managing the process. This wasn’t done but the next time the doctor visited after said losing of my shit, the doctor aspirated the tube to check pH levels and lo and behold the tube was finally in the right place and feeding could begin. 4 days and numerous ping pong journeys between ward doctor and X-ray and Dad wheeled around the hospital by a porter each time. Often missing his once-a-day-turn-up-whenever physio slot.
What an absolute waste of time, resources, money and more importantly a stress for the patient and family. What was worse, NO ONE I SPOKE TO CARED. For sure they apologised each time I pointed out a failing, but nothing changed.
Despite all the staff being constantly glued to a computer, whenever I asked a question about Dad’s condition, treatment or general comfort no one could ever give me an answer without saying “I’m not looking after him, you’ll have to speak to nurse xyz” all the nurses had scrappy bits of paper with handwritten patient notes scribbled on them.
Asking about pathways for Dads care when he left hospital - no department was joined up - Dad was stuck in the respiratory ward, when he should have been in ENT for the impact of previous surgery (he had a total laryngectomy 13 years ago) or Elderly care and there was no synchronisation of information to relay to Dad’s family.
I experienced shrugging of shoulders when asking for care for my Dad, I was told sometimes they were too busy to provide pain relief, and we experienced awful levels of cleanliness and hygiene in Dad’s side room. He got covid in hospital. He recovered from covid. He fought though frail.
He was admitted after a fall which resulted in a broken clavicle. He was admitted fully independent. He died 6 weeks later having been left in bed for almost all if that time. An occasional once a day if you were lucky visit from physio to get him out of bed onto his chair. He was never helped to the toilet and passed away incontinent.
Dad lived independently for 13 years after his laryngectomy yet deteriorated in a matter of weeks in hospital, admitted because if s broken shoulder and was left totally dependent on hospital staff and his family. His family provided many of his basic care requirements quite simply because there wasn’t enough staff each day servicing the needs of patients. I’m some ways Dad was fortunate he had family who could provide this care. Others did not.
Shame on the NHS management and the political leaders of this country. The system is systemically broken but by saying “the NHS is free at the point of need” does not address its fractured core, nor provide a service fit for purpose in many many cases.
That’s a terrible story Liz. Hard to believe in the 21stC that we now have what seems like a system you’d expect to find in an emerging nation rather than this. Thanks for sharing.