My mum went to a and e with a chest infection which she was admitted to a ward and given intravenous antibiotics. She has dementia and she is 81 yrs old other than the dementia she has nothing else wrong with her. She was put on pathway without consulting us and they had her nil by mouth of which she had no reason to be as she eats well.
Because they said she didn't respond to antibiotics they advised she would only have hours to a day to live. We took her out of hospital and took her back to her home of which 2 weeks later she is still with us eating drinking and obs all ok. In hospital they just wrote her off because they thought she was unconscious or non responsive to them because she has her eyes closed all the time and she can't have a conversation with you just the odd sentence/words may come out.
She has latter stage dementia she will not respond to your questions but she will eat and drink if you put it to her mouth, this is how she normally is before she went to a&e. Basically the hospital thought no point helping her because she's old and has dementia hence why they put her on the pathway, I thought hospitals where meant to save lives regardless of age and what illness people may have, not set them up to die by withdrawing all fluids, food and medication. No compassion and appalling care provided.
"No clue of how to deal with elderly patients..."
About: Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust Wigan WN1 2NN
Posted via nhs.uk
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