"Waiting for a bed in a so called day room"

My mother was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow by ambulance in severe pain. After various tests she was diagnosed with a UTI and treatment of antibiotics was then started.

After a short stay on receiving ward 5,  she was moved to a so called day room to await a bed on ward 5a after lunch, I say so called as it consisted of 3 mattresses, a wardrobe and broken television and sounds more like a cupboard.

I spoke with a junior doctor for an update a little later and was told she was still feeling unwell, hadn’t managed anything to eat or drink orally and was an assistance of one due to weakness and pain and just waiting for a bed on the ward. Due to work commitments we couldn’t visit during the day so my dad went after work and arrived about 6.30pm.

He asked at the desk what room she was in and after a few members of staff trying to find her on the computer he eventually spotted her through the glass door of the so called day room. She was sitting in a patient transport chair with her head on the table asleep! To say we were shocked was an understatement. She had been sitting there for at least 6 hours by this point with no water visible, not connected to any fluids and no access to a patient call buzzer for assistance bearing in mind she was being treated for a UTI and was an assistance of one.

When my dad woke her up she pleaded with him to take her home as she was in a lot of pain and very uncomfortable. My dad went to ask a nurse for painkillers and to find out why she was still waiting for a bed. A nurse went with him to speak to my mum and jokingly told her to have patience, as they were getting a room ready.

My mum eventually got a bed around 8.45pm along with some painkillers. I was disgusted with this treatment, I know how busy all hospitals are (I work in one) and my mum has had many admissions in the last couple of years but this has been the worst experience so far.

I phoned the ward the next day for an update and to complain about my mums wait. Clerk advised that Doctors were still on the ward round and to call back after lunch, I also explained my complaint and she said SCN was busy but took my name and number and said she would pass it to her to call me back.

I’m still waiting on that call even though I was reassured twice that afternoon that she would call me. I phoned again the next day to speak with SCN but was told it was their day off. I spoke with the nurse in charge that day who was apologetic of my mums experience but said it was normal practice to have patients wait in day rooms for beds to allow space for patients coming from A&E. I’m fully aware of how it works but day rooms should only be used for patients awaiting discharge or at least medically fit.

I don’t know if this is a new procedure as she has never experienced it before but if it is then it should be adequate for the patient it’s being used for.

I don’t know who made the decision for someone medically unfit at that point to sit on their own for 8 hours! This is unacceptable. Thankfully she was discharged after 4 days.