Went to visit mum in ward 2 on in May at 3pm, ward very quiet lots of empty beds so nurses were not very busy at all (sitting round station with large plate of scones in front of them).
Went into see my mother who had a massive stroke and is left with no capacity to do anything for herself and to my utter horror her blanket wasn't covering her and she had no pad or pants on and her nightie was round her waist exposing her bottom half, she was obviously in a state of distress and couldn't or didn't have the ability to call for help.
Thank goodness the other 5 beds in the ward were empty so there were no other visitors to see my mum or perhaps it might of been a good thing as she could of got help sooner, what made it worse is that the nurses station was right outside her room!
I asked the nurses if there was any explanation as to why my mother had no pants or pad on and one of them said she had paper protection underneath her. I asked what good would that of done had her bowel moved to that another one said she couldn't have been like that for very long! As if that was an excuse, I said it didn't matter how long she had been like that her dignity was already gone and how would she like to be left like that.
The whole episode was totally inexcusable, it makes me wonder why they are in a 'caring' profession by the way this conversation had been with auxiliaries a staff nurse came to me and apologised and said it should never have happened, if they had held their hands up in the first place and shown some embarrassment and have been so blasé about the situation I wouldn't be writing this.
"My mother was left in distress"
About: Royal Alexandra Hospital / General Medicine (wards 8, 10, 11, 14, 18 & 27) Royal Alexandra Hospital General Medicine (wards 8, 10, 11, 14, 18 & 27) PA2 9PN
Posted by Fizzyvimto (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Lorna Fairlie