General Chat

This is so sad. It need not be like that. Last year my Mum(94) had to go into hospital for tests. Sadly her condition deteriated and she died but the staff were wonderful. Yes they were often very pushed for time but every patient mattered and as Mum got more frail I noted the change in drinking cups, which they brought to help her to maintain her independance as long as possible. Several times I visited while a member of staff was still helping with her dinner and they'd tell me what else she'd managed to eat since the previous day. Mum was forever telling us how kind they were and she always looked clean and well cared for. We are very grateful that her final days were as comfortable as possible. Nursing staff are busy but surely the ward has extra staff, who deal with the non-medical needs of patients. I wouldn't hestitate to voice my concerns if it were my family left without a drink. Dehydration, especially for the elderly is a real issue and can lead to major medical problems...........or worse. Gwyn

The hospital concerned will have a PALs organisation. It really is important that the PALs are told. The hospital MUST advertise the PALs contact details. The PCT running the hospital will also have a PPI. PPIs are quite effective at representing patients but they do need to be told about anything which is going wrong. Hospital are encouraged to, and many do, have a 'protected meal time' and a 'red tray' system. The red tray is to indicate any patient who has difficulty feeding themselves and the tray should be checked to verify food has been eaten. Clive

I agree, that is dreadful. When my F-i-L was in hospital after a stroke, M-i-L not only fed him, but some other patients too. The food was brought round and left at the end of the beds for patients who couldn't even sit up! Then the untouched food was taken away again. When M-i-L noticed this, she approached the nursing staff only to be told that they were too busy and understaffed to feed each patient! These people were all elderly stroke victims, mostly unable to move much or speak, and certainly unable to cut up their food to eat. M-i-L had worked in an old peoples home for 20+ years and her offer to help was accepted gratefully. She spent each day from 9am til 9pm on the ward helping not only F-i-L but all the other patients too. Sue xx

That's so not on. I know our nurses are over stretched but not to be able to give a lady a glass to drink out of !! How rude & ill mannered!! Perhaps the dinner ladies that come round or the cleaners wouldn't mind looking out for her? Much happiness Debi

That is an absolute disgrace. I take my hat of to nursing staff as a rule but there is really no excuse for this. I know they do a good job and are usually short staffed but when patients are not being looked after properly then something has too be done, time the government woke up and got their priorities right

We went to see o'h's god-mother in hospital on Saturday. She is 84 and is in there for ( amongst other things ) severe dehydration. When we got there we asked her if she would like a drink and she said all she had to drink from was a plastic bottle!!!! Which was indeed the fact. She had asked the nurse for a glass ( whatever ) they told her they were too busy and she could use the water bottle to drink out of to take her tablets......... Words fail me. O.h went to kitchen and got her a beaker. Lin x