"My 97yr old mother's Hospital stay."

My mum, was admitted to the Borders General Hospital, Melrose, Scottish Borders in July 2019 with heart failure and confusion. I transported my mum to the A & E department in the Borders  General  Hospital myself,  after talking to staff via NHS 24 and coming to the conclusion it would be quicker than waiting for NHS 24 staff to review her. Once seen by medical staff in A & E it was decided  to admit my mum to the Medical Assessment Unit there. Whilst there, my mum fell and sustained a head injury. My mum had a CT of her head and no lasting damage was found. However I did observe that my mum who at 97 years of age was not supplied with a walking aid, even although I had informed staff on her admission that she used a walking aid due to her being unsteady on her feet. When I asked nursing staff about this, I was told that this ward was not allowed to issue walking aids! I then offered to take in her own one, which I did.

After approximately 1 week my mum was transferred to ward 12 which was much more geared up to providing care of the elderly  and my mum settled in well. My mum received the appropriate care for her heart failure and was found to have a urine infection too which had contributed to the confusion which was new for my mum. Then approximately 4 days later it was decided to transfer my mum to Kelso Cottage Hospital which was considered better for my mum as she lives in Kelso. Although I was pleased with the move, i did feel after this second move since admission to hospital my mum's confusion was exasperated. 

Kelso Hospital is very equipped for care of the elderly and the staff there are very caring. My mum had a bed in a twin room on her own at first and then a lady also in her 90s was admitted into the bed next to her and they seemed to hit it off well and enjoyed each other's company. My mum's confusion appeared to be decreasing which was encouraging. However after about 3 weeks my mum was moved again to another twin room, this time sharing with another elderly lady who was very confused.  I felt this 3rd move since her admission to hospital, upset my mum quite a bit, setting back her recovery. Whilst visiting my mum in the first days after this move my mum would talk about nothing else and I found it quite upsetting seeing my mum in this state. After talking to nursing staff about this, it was felt that this last move had been a wrong move for my mum.

After approximately 2 weeks the confused lady sharing the twin room with my mum was transferred to more appropriate accommodation and another lady was admitted to share with my mum. This turned out to be a better combination for my mum and the two of them started to chat and spend some time together.

After an 8 week hospital stay, I was informed that my mum was to have a home visit with the occupational therapist and they would be in touch with me to arrange a day and time. However instead, after a 9 week Hospital stay I got a phone call one Wednesday whilst at my work, to say my mum was to be discharged home without a home visit, that day, as her package  of care could re start! I informed the nursing staff involved that this was the first time I had known of this decision and things were not prepared at home. The nurse had suspected I did not know and it was agreed that my mum's discharge would be postponed until the Monday when I would be available to meet up with occupational therapist and my mum for a home visit/discharge. The discharge went ahead on Monday with 2 members of the occupational therapist department and myself and of course my mum at her home address in Kelso.