Hospital can be difficult. I don't think I've ever visited a hospital and the patient hasn't had one of those comfy chairs next to each bed. You could do without this along with everything else.
If you have issues go to the Pals office as things are then focused on rather than ignored. Polite but firm.
It's all very stressful and upsetting for you. I am afraid as patients get more complex and staff are stretched with low morale, these situations are unfortunately going to occur.
I agreed with Lynd to go to PALS, it's their job to work on behalf of patients and relatives.
I hope you get a bit more support. You are doing a good job in trying to mage sure your dad gets the care he needs.
This is disgraceful. Read his notes and find out what they are doing to prevent bedsores. Ask how often they are changing his pads. Ask what other system they can use. If they cannot cope using pads what about conveens or a catheter to keep things a bit drier. Ask WHY about everything, writie down their answers or better still get someone to come in to do it while you ask the questions Get it all written down with their reasons, Log every incident with time place and who you have reported it to. Calm but firm. Remind them that they came into nursing to help people and ask them what they think is going wrong Don't accept lack of money.
Is he able to control the bed himself . There should be a controller that he could have if he is able to use it and at least be able to sit supported.
How coperative is he? Some patients do resist all attempts to do the right things and they need to be handled the right way not just ignored.
What's going on with the bed. A decent air bed is vey comfortable and helps a lot with sores but not if it is not inflated. Is the bed faulty in which case they need to exchange it for one which works AT ONCE or is dad perhaps able to fiddle with the controls in which case they need to find a way of blocking them. They cannot just say its Dad's fault. Even if it is they are supposed to be caring for him not washing their hands of him like this
Hi JeffAjaxSmith,
I know you have an ongoing struggle with some very poor standards that you meet in the medical facilities in your area, which your dad has to endure. I think it's a lot for one person, i.e. yourself, to have to fight everyone all of the time to get a decent level of care for your poor dad who seems to suffer so much, and would suffer much more if he didn't have you to look out for him. So I can only say go on doing what you have to do, even though it's a never-ending task. At least it helps a bit to make your dad more comfortable.
I have slept on those rotten inflatable mattresses they now use in hospitals. I think they are a conspiracy to make us all want to get back home as quickly as possible!
But I do understand why they exist and how they help to cut out those dangerous and deadly infections that occur in hospitals, like MRSA and C difficile, because they are so much easier to disinfect than a traditional mattress. And I do appreciate that it's cleaner for a patient than sleeping on layers of many other people's dead skin cells. It also means a mattress can be cleaned by one person. I watched one member of nursing staff disinfecting a dozen or more mattresses single handed during my sojourn in hospital and thought then how much simpler it was than in my nursing days, when it was a 2-3 person job to turn a traditional mattress, and there was no way to effectively disinfect it. So these do free up nursing staff to do more of their vital caring tasks.
But I know it's hard to think of the finer points when your bedsheets are bunching in the middle, and you are sliding from side to side of the bed as you perch precariously on top of one of the awful things!
Anyway Jeff, keep doing what you do. You are a marvel!
OMG Hidden ,these long days of you constantly having to ensure your dear Dad is getting the care he needs,must be taking its toll on you....it must be? Like Hidden and FredaE have already pointed out,thank goodness you are feeling well enough at the moment to do all this. It's not good enough because you'll end up totally worn out. I wonder if asking for a meeting with the Ward Sister,Consultant or Doctor to really air your serious worries relating to Dads care or rather the lack of it?
In any event JAS, keep that stiff British lip up,don't let down your guard and do what you can do. You totally know your dear Dad is so very proud of you. Please tell him we all want him to be comfortable.
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