"Unhappy with my mother's care at Pulross Intermediate Centre"

My Mother was admitted to the Pulross in December 2013 for rehab following a hip replacement. She was very distressed on admittance and her regular physiotherapist visited her on the same day - he recommended that she return home for community rehab. This advice was ignored by the inpatient team.

She had been admitted able to walk with the assistance of two people but the team had not received this information and refused to chase it. Thus, they undertook very little physio with her. Then, when left unattended, she fell. No immediate damage was noted other than obvious distress. However, it was clear that she was in pain.

This was ignored AND denied by the staff until I witnessed a nursing assistant acknowledge her pain. She then reported this to senior staff. A doctor attached to the centre examined my mother by doing no more than by counting her limbs! He did not speak to her or touch her - and when I questioned his action (or inaction) he said he was in a hurry, as he had a taxi waiting.

I demanded that my mother be returned to King's College hospital for an x-ray, which took a further three days to arrange! I then returned to collect my mother's belongings and attempted to discuss our experience - I was met with an irritated junior physio and, despite being my mother's physio, had very little knowledge of her even though she had been there for ten days. When I asked what physio my mother had received, the doctor told me that they hadn't been able to do much work with her as she was in so much pain.

We had previous experience of the Pulross through the out-patient facility there (a separate team) and I cannot fault their wonderful work but out experience this time was desperately poor, and we feel this service needs thorough review. It should most certainly not be described as rehab - my mother deteriorated there!

My mother went on to stay another week at King's before returning home - she was walking again within one week of receiving community rehab!