"Dignity compromised by the action of one staff member"

Mother was admitted to PAH on Thursday evening (after a delay in ambulance being sent), received excellent care from both A&E and in the Observation Ward overnight. The staff were excellent even though they were kept busy with new arrivals throughout the night and the following day.

The admission to the ward was not such a happy experience. We were hoping our mother would receive a good nights sleep but this was very disturbed. I was allowed to stay overnight as it was very late and I was unable to get public transport home. However I noticed on several occasions that some staff did not respond to patients' request for support.

In the morning, the drip fitted to my mother had leaked in bed and I was passed sheets to change the bedding. I assisted with washing my mother and getting her settled for some sleep. The following evening when alone a new drip had not been fitted before the end of the evening visiting. I requested this was done and was advised it would be completed. After fitting, my mother was unable to attend the lavatory without assistance (as this needed removal). My mother buzzed and was disconnected only to find a trail of blood from her bed to bathroom as this leaked. She was made to feel uncomfortable in asking for support.

Later in the early hours of the morning, she needed the lavatory again, she buzzed repeatedly and no one attended, she ended up with a wet bed. The staff member then removed her from the bed and sat her in the chair, made no attempt to remake the bed and mother was left cold and sitting in a chair for several hours.

My mother was discharged later in the day and felt emotionally drained and although she understood there were not many staff available that her dignity had been compromised by the action of one staff member. My mother is deaf and was finding it difficult to understand conversations (especially when the room was darkened as she needs to lip read).

All the staff were very obliging except for this particular nurse who did not seem to be aware of the needs of either deaf or elderly patients. I would like to express the view applies to one particular member of staff and is not a general view for the Hospital which cannot be faulted with their care and attention.