Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get to Consultation yesterday re possible tendon release surgery. There was a major electricity power cut in the care home area ( accidental damage of a cable by a worker). Power went off just before 1 just as we were waiting for ambulance transport. As we are located on 2nd floor and lifts out of action we couldn’t go due to son being wheelchair bound. Informed hospital and they will be rescheduling appointment - 🤞that is soon.
Power was not restored until approx 5.30 by which time obviously dark. I was actually quite shocked that a care home of Hawthorns (Barchester Group) did not have a back up generator. When length of repair was known by all accounts one was being sent but was four hours away!
Lack of back up lighting/lamps was also woeful & no heating at all. Considering several residents on son’s rehabilitation floor are dependent on ventilators and others have trachys this doesn’t seem a very safe emergency position. So advocacy hat will be on again to ask questions at next meeting.
Best wishes Nanapal x
Written by
Nanapal
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
That experience must of been awful for everyone and I'm sure the staff were thinking the same, that back up would of been sooner due to rehabilitation vulnerabilities. So sorry of the extended delay for the Consultation x
Absolutely! The management of the care home should have thought through these emergency situations in advance. It's no good trying to apologise later if someone dies.
Emergency plans in this scenario obviously need review. Apart from my sons floor their are numerous other residents with differing rehabilitation needs, nursing & dementia units - no hot drinks, tv etc & evening meal would have been a cold offering unless given very late (usually served at 5). Dementia sufferers in particular can be very upset when routine is interrupted.
I expect/hope all laws are adhered to due to safety checks etc care homes need. In most likely hood recommendations/suggestions are made surrounding certain things but due to ‘money’ are not implemented. Generators are probably expensive items but I will be asking if any other Barchester homes have them & making my own ‘suggestions’ how to improve!
Morning Nanapal, sorry your son was unable to attend appointment, I suppose these things happen but very frustrating. Like you I can’t believe all the power went off, when I worked emergency lighting kicked in and I was thinking they should have means of getting patients downstairs, but then his personal adapted chair would be upstairs, so yes a generator would be the answer. The beds and emergency equipment usually have battery back up for a short time if I remember rightly. Hope you get the appointment through soon, and you don’t have to wait long. All my love Alice xx
So sorry to hear this Nan. Vulnerable folk being deprived of so many essentials for 4+hrs is inexcusable. And that it scuppered your son's hospital consultation must've felt like the last straw.
I hope management have held up their hands as negligent and put all necessary back-up measures in place. Unbelievable !
Hope a new appointment comes through soon m'love . . 🤞🤞 🤞
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Update on Peter going into a nursing home,
UPDATE PARTNERS TBI 
Just a quick update x
