"Problems with Complex care"

Anything else?

My elderly aunt was in NMGH for 6 weeks. She was admitted with a chest infection but 'something' caused her to deteriorate in her second week. No one found out what that 'something' was nor did they seem particularly committed to find out. When asked why she could walk sometimes but not others I was told they did not know. When asked why she could not swallow properly they simply said they had put her on a soft diet. I spoke to hte consultant asking if she could be assessed further or sent into intermediate care for further investigation. He told me he would ask the neuro physio to see her. THat was on the Monday. On Friday morning this woman arrived at her home. No carers turned up that day. THe next day she was rigid in bed nad unable to swallow. The care manager said she had to go back into hospital. The hospital said her swallowing was slow but present. Told her elderly husband (88 at 1.30 in the morning ) she would be coming home. He sat up until until 5.30. She arrived at 11.30 the next day. By the end of that week the team decided htis was an unsafe discharge and she was admitted to a local facility for further assessemnt. Within one week she was dehydrated and was readmitted to Oldham Hospital ( I would never allow her to be admitted to NMGH again.0 This is not the first time this has happened to my familly - it is the third time and I wouls say the approach to people with complex care needs has been appalling on every occasion.