This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Lack of compassion for a dying patient

Posted By TYG

"Lack of compassion for a dying patient"

About: Frimley Park Hospital / Older people's healthcare

(as other),

My mother was in Frimley Park hospital 2 years ago. They lady in the next bed was sleeping. Her family were called and they were told she was dying. There was no privacy, I could hear everything.

When it was meal time they put it on a table by her bed and tried to wake her up to eat it. Later they tried to wake her for a blood test - one nurse told another they had to do it, she was on the list, otherwise they would get a bad audit. Later an elderly man came in and sat by her bed. He held her hand a few times and spoke to her, but she was sleeping. Eventually a nurse came by and realised she had died. They put the screens around the bed and walked off. No one offered the man any words of comfort. Eventually he got up and walked off. It was the most awful scene totally lack any care or compassion.

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Claire Marshall, Head of Patient Involvement, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust 7 years ago
We have made a change
Claire Marshall
Head of Patient Involvement,
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 24/11/2016 at 08:10
Published on Care Opinion at 09:42

picture of Claire Marshall

Dear TYG

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback on your experience whilst visiting your mother two years ago. It is a very sad story to read and I'm sorry that this happened for the patient, her visitor and for you and your mother. I have shared your story with the Trust Doctor Lead for end of life care, and it will be shared at the Matrons and Ward sisters meetings next month. The information he has provided, along with the Deputy Director of Nursing, has informed my response to you.

We have been working on improving end of life care for patients and their relatives or carers over the last two years in the Trust. We take end of life care very seriously and are working hard to try to get it right every time. We have developed 'My Care Plan' to try to ensure people get the care they need, want and deserve. My Care Plan has been developed to align with national guidelines called “One Chance To Get It Right” (July 2014) and NICE Guidelines for Care of the Dying Adult (Dec 2015).

We have prioritised side rooms for the dying, we are educating our staff to recognise patients who are dying and empowering them to alert the medical teams. Nurses have been given reminder cards of the steps they should take to ensure the best care for our patients. A number of staff have been trained in enhanced communication skills, further training resources are available to staff on our intranet page and an end of life care conference was held at the end of September for staff.

I realise none of this can change the experience for the lady, or you but I hope it demonstrates to you that we care about this and want to get it right.

Thank you again

Kind Regards

Claire Marshall

Head of Patient Experience

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k