"My 80 year Old mother"

My mum was admitted to  A&E for the 3rd time in a month. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was under the care of Kings College Hospital. The whole experience of Medway Hospital over the past few years has been nothing less than a nightmare. However, the treatment she received whilst in this ward was nothing less than despicable.

She was left in bed in wet clothes due to her incontinence caused by the tumour. She was just given an incontinence pad to sit on. Each time I went in I had to ask them to change her and her bedding. On one occasion she asked for the commode and we were left waiting 10 minutes as the staff were 'too busy', by the time they finally got to her it was too late. She was then left for 20 minutes sitting on the commode, with no clothes on, shivering and distressed. We rang her call bell and after 10 minutes, it was just switched off and we had to ring it again!

She did not have her name above her bed and each time I asked a member of staff how she was doing and what was happening, they did not even know who she was!

Her brain operation was scheduled at Kings and she was due to be kept in and transferred to Kings on the day before her operation due to her developing steroid induced diabetes.

Two days before this, a Dr came round and informed us her operation had been cancelled! when I asked her why? She shrugged her shoulders and walked off! I immediately contacted Kings and they were shocked and totally unaware that her operation had been cancelled! They advised me that they had. It cancelled the op and they were still expecting her on the Thursday!

I spent the whole of the following day liaising with Kings and Medway trying to get it sorted and an ambulance booked for her transfer! Finally sorted and transport arranged! An apology from kings who could not believe or understand where the information had come from!

I telephoned Medway in the day of her anticipated transfer to Kings, to be told again that the operation was cancelled and she was not going to Kings! Yet again I had to phone Kings who could not believe this was happening again

The Dr at Medway was so rude and did not even offer an apology! I was then informed by the Dr that she would be transferred to Kings and an ambulance was booked for 2pm! I was advised they had booked a 'car ambulance' as she was fit to travel this way!

I arrived at the hospital at 1. 30 with clean clothes for her to travel in. I was greeted by a. It's who advised me that I should check with the Dr as the ambulance had been cancelled and she was not going to Kings because Kings had cancelled the operation!

When I saw my mother I was so distressed at what I was faced with!

They had got her out of bed and sat her in the chair assuming she was going to Kings. She was extremely distressed and sobbing! She was left sitting on a soaked incontinence pad, her nighty was wet and dirty. She had not been washed and had been given nothing to eat since breakfast at 7am. She had nothing to drink and had been given none of her medication, including her insulin which was imperative as her sugar levels needed to be kept stable in order for her to have the operation. This resulted in her sugar levels being very high again by the time she reached Kings and she had to be placed on an insulin drip overnight to get her levels stable again. Had they been unable to stabilise them as quickly as they did, this could have resulted in them being unable to operate.

I had to phone Kings again and confirm this information was incorrect and they were expecting her there by 4pm in order for them to settle her in and prepare her for the operation the following day.

It is then brought to my attention that the Dr had ordered a car ambulance which had arrived at 2pm but my mum was deemed unfit to travel this way and needed to be transported by stretcher in a proper ambulance which had apparently been booked and was on its way to collect her.

I had to kick up a fuss and contact PALS who phoned to check the ambulance had been booked. The ambulance finally arrived at almost 6pm to collect her and I was then advised it was not booked until 4. 30pm.

I cannot begin to express the distress and worry caused to my mother and myself and family over the appalling treatment received from this ward!

I have absolutely no doubt that if I wasn't there to fight every step of the way for my mum, she would not be here today!

Absolutely disgusted with this hospital and this ward. On arriving at Kings it was like entering a 5 star hotel fit only for royalty and that is how we have all been treated.