"Our mum"

Mum who is in her 80's was admitted to station 2 at Ayr hospital with a bowel obstruction. This was something that could not be operated on due to her frailty. Our mother however had a fall in hospital in the early hours of the morning. As nurses of 30 years+ ourselves we appreciate that falls cannot always be prevented however what is done after a fall we feel is paramount.

It took almost 10 hours for someone to telephone to say that mum had fallen. We as nurses would have thought this should have been done at the earliest opportunity which would have been first thing in the morning! Then we were told later in the day that mum had sustained a bleed on the brain and they were liaising with the neurological services in Glasgow. We were informed that she had gone for a scan to confirm this. Again not informed that she was going for a scan! Quick leap to the following day when we were eventually told that Neurology were not intervening. No idea when this was decided as we were again not informed in timeous manner.

On visiting we discovered that she had been catheterised. Never informed of this. On telephoning on one occasion to enquire as to mums health we were told that the nurse assigned to my mum was away for a break therefore no one could update us. Surely every nurse should have some knowledge of patients in their ward. What if something happened whilst they were away on a break , have we to wait till they get back before action is taken. Yes we understand that wards are busy but these are the basics of nursing.

Sadly mum died this morning. It might only be another patient to the hospital but it was our mum. After 36 years of nursing I have not forgotten the one word which was drummed into me as a student nurse and that is Empathy. We as a family have over 130 years experience as nurses and feel ashamed of the NHS. On a positive note there were a few members of staff who we could not fault however this was overshadowed. Incandescent with anger.