A 71 year old woman released from hospital suffering from Angina, clots around the heart. They said she was well enough to go home where she has no support. She cannot get out at all. There is no food in the house and it is cold and damp. Is this acceptable? According to our local hospital, because a neighbour has said she will do the shopping she has support.
This lady is very confused. She threw all the newly bought food out of her freezer because she thought it was bad. The hospital has refused to put her forward for home assessment as she can wash herself!!
Now it is up to neighbours who have lives of their own, jobs, children etc. to take on the caring role with no training or support.
Is this normal or acceptable?
2007-10-03 09:19:40 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
She went to the doctors when the tops of her fingers went black - they left her for 6 weeks until someone went with her to a hospital visit and demanded they look at her hands. The circulation problems were caused by blood clots & she was admitted. The same doctor wrote in her notes that she was suffering from malnutition through not eating properly. She's 5ft 8 and weighs under 8 stone. The doctor did not want her discharged but was overruled. He is fuming at the moment but his hands are tied. This authority is in Kent - explains alot.
2007-10-03 09:40:23 · update #1
First things first, please get on to Social Services and the lady's GP as a matter of urgency.
Sounds unfortunately like what is the norm these days, the people who really know (the clinical people, doctors & nurses) are being overruled by the vast panoply of target-chasing management.
2007-10-03 20:51:01 · answer #1 · answered by champer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hospitals in the UK are now more interested in infecting patients with MRSA and that other fatal disease which begins with as 'C' rather than care for them.
Once they have either got an old patient sent home or preferably died, they can tell Gordon Brown that they have an extra empty bed for an illegal immigrant or some other pox ridden foreigner that has come to these shores for free treatment.
A few years ago, hospitals used to tend people until they were fit to go home and look after themselves. The hospitals should be run by the Doctors and Nurses rather than a Quango that probably knows nothing of caring for others, but knows how to hang on to good, well paid jobs and of course please the boss at No. 10.
2007-10-03 10:38:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without know the full details; it's potentially completely acceptable for the hospital to expect a patients familiy and friends to provide a level of support. To assume otherwise is quite a statement on todays society.
By far, the best place for a patient to be is at home. This has been proved again and again.
So saying, there does need to be a level of support, initiated by the hospital but managed by the GP/community team. If this hasn't happened, then somebody needs to get onto her GP straight away.
There are a good number of options and support available; from meals on wheels to regular visits from a community nurse/social worker, etc.
2007-10-03 09:27:46 · answer #3 · answered by Felidae 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is nrmal. Angina is not the same thing as clots around the heaart. The friends need to ask her doctor for a social services consult for placement in a home. If she is on medicare/medicaide, then they will only pay for so long for some conditions. Why didn't her nurse ask the doctor for a consult? If a neighbor or friend agrees to help her then the hospital is correct in saying she has support.
2007-10-03 09:26:17 · answer #4 · answered by bored 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is NOT acceptable. They do it all the time though, fast turnover means more patients seen. My friend who`s nearly 90, had a hip replacement and she was sent home too early. Only her husband to look after her (over 90) He made her a cup of soup and took toaster into lounge to ask " hows this work" (he can`t cook) Needless to say next day she was back in hospital. This practise is DISGUSTING. Hope it don`t happen to me, going for hip surgery on 24th !
2007-10-03 09:42:03 · answer #5 · answered by Kaz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blame it all on Medicare and the insurance companies. It is all part of the capacity utilization they are required to do. What she really needs is long term care. Somebody should look into placing her in a nursing home. If she has no funds, perhaps the county home.
2007-10-03 09:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by Mark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is appalling. Heaven help us when we get old in this brave new Britain! This lady should have had proper support, including meals on wheels and visits from the geriatric social worker. We are lagging far behind the USA in this -- clearly because they pay for health insurance cover and we rely on the NHS paid for by our taxes. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=381128
2007-10-03 09:54:05 · answer #7 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the hospital in itself is not responsible for this womans treatment at home, she was stable enough to be discharged an sent home in a reasonable fashion, it is then the families or social services turn to take over in an attempt to get her placed in a nursing home or assisted living, not the hospitals.
2007-10-03 09:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by backdraft51185 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah but at the end of the day the hospital has a budget and has to stick to it, its not fair but its what happens.
2007-10-03 09:31:42 · answer #9 · answered by Ben H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No its not acceptable - you should contact social services. I hate this frigging country - out of sight - out of mind!!
2007-10-03 09:28:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋