"Poor palliative care"

My gran had been on end of life care in Ward 31 Glasgow Royal Infirmary and she and our family experienced a really poor standard of palliative care for most of the time she was there. 

Throughout the time we were at her bedside, it was as though she wasn’t a patient on the ward. Hardly any staff ever approached her, only around twice in one full day. The staff made us as a family feel a burden, essentially acting as if we weren’t there. No one checked in on us, only the consultants once a day actually taking an interest in a grieving family.

At times when medication was asked of for my grandmother, this took a lengthy amount of time, and I myself felt be spoken to in a very condescending manner for asking for medication for my gran to be more peaceful (despite us being promoted to ask whenever by the lovely consultants on the ward). I am aware that people at the end of life can sound scary, but I can tell the difference between her being uncomfortable or not.

I found the sister of the ward very condescending towards us, and when asked for the possibility of getting a drink on our third day (when of course they had a moment and because the cafes and shops had closed at early in the hospital so there was literally no other option but to politely ask the ward) they bluntly replied that they hadn’t even had their break yet. Whilst I can very much understand wards are busy and acute, we weren’t demanding anything and I feel it’s very unprofessional to reply with this. For their colleague then to apologise on their behalf because they didn’t know who we were (aka their patient’s family) was also ridiculous, because if they'd come anywhere near my gran after 9am (this was at 15:30) they would know who we were.  

There were a very few selective staff who were compassionate - the deputy charge nurse on our second day and the staff nurse and healthcare assistant who were on when my gran passed away (I am unsure of their names). They were sympathetic and compassionate, keeping us informed with the next steps and encouraging us to take as long as needed at my gran’s bedside. 

It’s not hard to be compassionate, especially as nurses. To a family who are losing their loved one it’s already a difficult time, and feeling a burden in the hospital didn’t help matters at all.  

Also having to go out of the ward, down 3 flights of long stairs (or via a lift that takes an hour to get anywhere), and along a very long corridor to use the disgusting bathroom was ridiculous (especially for family members staying overnight with their dying loved one). I think GRI need to sort the place out. 

I hope this is a one-off experience and no other family members are made to feel like this.