"Very upsetting and poor adherance to law..."

What could be improved

1) My mother in law was admitted via A and E to a surgical ward with septacaemia from a kidney infection. On arrival in A and E she was having rigours and her observations clearly indicated sepsis. The Saving Lives document from the NHS clearly recognises the severity of sepsis and the need for prompt action (within 1 hour). My mother in law did not have regular observations, despite the obvious danger signs in her baseline obs. It was nearly 6 hours untila bag of saline was commenced. The dept was very busy, but is this a reason for someone to have life saving treatment. She had been moved to EAU without repeat obs. When they were recorded there, she was promptly transferred to resus and treatment commenced as should have been several hours earlier. My mother in law now has scarring on her kidneys, this could possibly have been prevented.

2) She was transferred to a surgical ward. No-one gave any diagnosis to her or the family until a nurse commenced IV antibiotics whilst I was present so gave opportunity to find out what she was on them for. The room she was nursed in initially was a single room. It was obvious that this room was used as an office. The shocking find for all to see was a hand written admission book wide open on the desk with lists of personal information for patients. What a disgusting breach of the data protection act!!!! My mother in law also had a temp of 40. The room was stuffy, no window open and no fan. Very poor basic nursing!

Anything else?

My mother in law was moved to a main bay whilst I was visiting. I had brought my young son with us as I was aware she was in a side room and wanted to cheer her up. Whilst being transferred the ward matron (she was in black and white striped uniform) guided us into a relatives room to wait while the move was done. I was very shocked to find an anaethetist consenting a young man for a personal operation and continued to do so despite us being there. Both our family and the young man felt embarrassed. The matron then proceeded to advise my mother in law that my baby wasnot welcome on the ward (despite being asleep in his pram and making no sound). She also asked my mother in law to tell us that it was no more than 2 to a bed at anytime. I can fully appreciate this, however it upset my mother in law, and also as a very senior member of staff, is it not part of her role to speak with relatives, not rudley ask a very poorly lady whose speech had become slurred suring her illness, who felt embarrassed by this, to do her work.

I really feel that there are some fantastic lovely nurses on the unit, but quite frankly it will be a miracle if they remain that way if mentored by such a poor example of leader. Later that day several more relatives attended and went to sit in a waiting area to rotate in in pairs, to be advised by a different member of staff that it didnt matter.