We're SO concerned about admission into NHS hospital - but is it just us......

Ann this sounds horrendous and I can understand why you are worried. As far as I know all patients should now have above their beds the name of their nurse and the doctor in charge of their treatment. These are the people who should know exactly what is happening and what treatment your mum should be having. I suggest you make a formal complaint about what has happened and ask that the proper procedures be put in place. I know this won't help your mum but I think one of the reasons they get away with poor care for the elderly is because they are unable to voice their dissatisfaction and so we must do it for them. As far as your mum goes I would say once you know the named staff try to build a relationship with them and find out exactly how your mum's treatment is going, making it clear that you are her main support and that you are concerned and want to be involved. When my mum has been in hospital (she's 94) I have often found that this helps all aspects of her stay.Good luck and try not to worry too much.

That's very upsetting for you and seems very wrong that the information is so lacking but after my mum has been admitted twice as emergency in the last few weeks I have come to realise that all aspects of care in hospital require the relatives to be very vigilant. You can read her notes and try and talk to the ward sister/dr etc if you can - it's not easy. My mum's discharge letter contains serious errors which caused her awful stress when she read it but fortunately my sister and I were there to sort it out. Worst was them stating she had a confirmed fractured femur after being told in hospital that it was not fractured, it was muscle spasm pain. How elderly people with no family get on I dread to imagine. I hope your MiL's stay isn't too traumatic for all of you, just be aware and check things.

This is not a recent development either. I worked with people with a learning disability some years ago, if they were admitted to hospital they were often unable to give their own details to the staff. Carers would stay with them and pass all the information to the relevant staff but invariably we were called back in to go through it all again. I have known this happen several times with the same person. It can't be beyond the wit of man to have a more foolproof handover procedure.

Good advice from Trisher, Ann, although I'm not sure a formal complaint at this stage is a good idea. Perhaps save that for later.
The only thing I would add is that as well as trying to build a relationship with the ward staff, you phone the thoracic consultant's secretary and demand to speak to him/her.
He/she will probably be horrified to find that their patients are being treated like this.

It's easy to forget about making that complaint afterwards though. I'd certainly ask for a copy of their complaints procedure. If more people carried through on these, then something would have been put in place by now.

Put simply, this is the NHS at its worst. Are you willing to name the hospital?

Good advice from Jane

It's like feed back after holidays. People have lots of complaints at the time but after they're safely back home fail to take things any further. I would ask for a copy of the complaint's procedure now and keep a diary to be attached to the form when she is safely back home.

I too feel so sorry for those with no relatives at hand to keep an eye on things. I found my mothers care was good mainly because I was calling in often and at random times and prowling around until I got answers. Being a nuisance worked wonders!

When DH was admitted recently with MRSA in his blood from a Hickman Line he was moved to a side room on a ward around 10pm after I left. He was not provided with a drink. Next day when I arrived for visiting, staff on the desk did not know he was there! Also there was no notice on his door about barrier nursing. I asked to speak to the sister and told her of the problems. Things were sorted quickly. He was admitted again two weeks ago, same sister, Ward all shipshape and staff on the ball!
I now keep a diary of what has happened and who we have seen. Getting joined up care from oncology, surgeons and the gastronomy team can be tricky. DH is not well enough to keep on top of the issues.
mancunian61 YANBU

The diary is a great idea when lots of stuff is involved as it can get confusing. You might find it useful to arrange visiting times to suit yourself Ann. When I was working I arranged to drop in and see mum straight after work and spent a couple of hours with her. I told staff if they needed me to move I would do so, but mostly they were happy for me to be there. I think seeing you are concerned sometimes increases the level of patient care- shouldn't be so, but nurses are only people and seeing a caring family makes a difference.

Communication has always been a huge problem in hospitals; it is worse since the advent of "outsourcing" The window-dressing of named nurses is a goof try but it does not tackle the basic problems.

or even "good"!

When a friend was in hospital for many weeks recently issues were speedily overcome while she was there with the help of the PALS service who seem very good at geting staff to listen. She was worried there would be some animosity but the staff seemed happy enough for the intervention and her treatment improved dramatically.

Thank you very much for all your good wishes and comments - I'm not sure if it was better or not to hear that others have had similar experiences . All of your comments are very helpful and appreciated.

Trisher - yes, I do wonder about the named nurse and what happens when they are not there. With my FiL last year I found that the info put above the bed wasn't always helpful - such as Aim ' to get home' when my MiL was at the end of her tether with his deteriorating dementia and couldn't have him home again (I did ask them to change it and they did), as it was he passed away without leaving hospital.

Visiting during the day is difficult for us anyway, so we do tend to go in visiting times.

GrannyA11i - yes, it does seem that relatives have to be on the ball at all times and to be the ones that have the overall health picture. I will continue to be alert, the ward and the ward doctor were very impressed with my typed chart of all her mediation and when she should take it

Christinefrance - yes, it does make you wonder about their record systems both computer and handovers, I can't understand why with all the supposed link ups they can't manage to keep relevant records available.

janeainsworth - yes, I had not thought of contacting the thoracic team themselves, good idea!

Anya - I have checked the website and I have found their complaints page. I don't really want to name the hospital at this point but it is in the North West.

NfkDumpling - I agree, I think of those patients who can't speak up for themselves and also for me, if and when my time comes. I have told my DH and DD to make sure I'm ok, usually its me who does these things lol!

Alygran - yes, that is my experience, getting joined up care is difficult across hospital departments, even with the community diabetic team and GPs. Last week we had a follow up appointment at one department at 11 am, in which we were seen half an hour past the appointment time, we then had a second appointment at 1.40pm, so we had a bit to eat in the cafe as it was too far to go home. We were then seen at 3.05pm, one and a half hours past our appointment time only to be told exactly the same thing as the first appointment, with the additional information that my MiL was discharged from that particular clinic - a letter would have been quite sufficient. She was exhausted!

Luckygirl - yes, even basic communication seems to be difficult for them to get a hold of!

cornergran - I have looked up the PALS service and there is one at the hospital my MiL is in.

To update, my MiL had the procedure done yesterday afternoon and all seems well at the moment. Her other sons visited yesterday and my DH will be going today. I will be with my DH to pick her up when she is leaving and checking through medication etc before we leave. We already have a follow up appointment so that is good.

I think I will be following your advice and making a formal complaint to the top executive at the hospital, copying in PALS and the thoracic team. I think I have to do this for my peace of mind and for any future visits for one and all. I have made a couple of complaints many years ago and got nowhere, but I am now older and wiser and will not be put off so easily. It's just that it takes up so much time and energy, I can easily understand why many don't follow a complaint though to its conclusion.

Thanks for reading!