"My father's last days in Ward F14"

Anything else?

My father was admitted to Wythenshawe hospital as an emergency - he had pneumonia as the immediate cause, but dementia was the underlying problem . He was 91 and obviously the prognosis was poor. He saw quite a few consultants and doctors during his time there - I have no problem with his medical diagnoses and treatment. I spent a lot of time with my father in his last days - as much as I could. My father died with me by his side in a seperate side ward - at least I was allowed as much access to him as I could have wished for. Did he get his medications on time ? Yes. Were his observations regularly checked? Yes. Was he kept clean and dry ? Well most of the time. But, and it's a big but for someone in their last week of life , where was the compassion ? Where was the feeling for another human being ? Non existent. He may have well have been nursed in F14 by robots. Many of the nurses on this ward did not possess the essential caring skills and compassionate personality that is necessary when dealing with a dying human being. I thank God I was there to give the love that he needed in his last days and hours.- I don't believe that most of the nurses on the ward during my father's time gave a damn, although they did mostly perform their duties - if that is sufficient. Nursing is much more than dispensing medication and carrying out timely tasks when someone is dying. I did make some form of complaint at one stage - when the consultants opening comments were ' It's unusual, we usually get praised' , it rather means that you are wasting your time saying anything at all because they aren't going to listen anyway to an obvious malcontent. I would not wish anyone who was in their weeks or days to be alone in this ward - especially if they are alone.