"Ongoing concern accessing care"

I have lost count now the amount of times that we have phoned GP, NHS24, 111 and 999, and Social Work Department to get help for my relative, who despite being taken to Galloway Community Hospital and despite a 3-day admission, still gets sent home in the same state. They presented at A&E with shortness of breath and shortness of breath in hospital too, but that concern not being addressed.

The home carers were phoning every day and within 24 hrs of what we now see as an unsafe discharge, unable to breathe, gasping and unable to mobilise at all at home, where they live alone. It was either this time or the day after, when she spent about 9 hours in the plaster room, they were asked how they felt about resuscitation. 

But once again...they were sent home in the same state. We are trying to work out if it appears to be the same doctor each time that sends them home but  you trust the medical intervention and expect your relative to receive medical care and be discharged home safe, not worrying that they might very well have a hypoxic arrest, watching them getting worse daily. 

We then phoned social work in desperation trying to get any sort of admission. We are still waiting to be called back a week later.

Turns out they have blood clots both lungs and fluid, very much treatable with today's medicine, and thankfully they are receiving the best of medical care in Dumfries Infirmary, having been sent there by a doctor in Galloway community, who thankfully admitted them and carried out numerous tests before sending to Dumfries. We have also raised our concern there about returning to Galloway Community as we fear she will be sent home once again whether she is medically fit or not. This has been documented in her nursing notes.

So following on from the amount of times 999 were phoned, we are now at the stage we have no faith and utterly despair at the thought that with any further medical concern, as it may arise, we feel, they will not receive appropriate medical treatment in Galloway Community Hospital.

3/4/5 days maybe, have actually lost count, of phoning and requesting medical and even social care, has once again been a horrendously stressful, disheartening experience for carers and the person and family involved. 

Accessing care should not be this difficult, but it has been in Stranraer. 

Incidentally, social work have yet to even phone any of us back, despite 2 phone calls requesting assessment of needs or a Social Admission anywhere and 2 further calls from the care company requesting the same. I was under the illusion, Health and Social Care was a joint initiative designed to be a seamless service for those requiring care or aftercare.