Patient sent home from Brighton hospital with tube in arm (From The Argus)

Message to the family - don't hold your breath on the outcome of the "inquiry". My Mum fell out of a bed at "large hospital in South London" at 4:00am and fractured her pelvis in four places. This was a bed which supposedly had the sides raised and according to the "Inquiry", she fell out of the bottom of the bed. Lets get something clear, my Mum was 85, had a CDIFF infection, was 5 stone and had been bed-bound for two month following bowel surgery. The fact she couldn't even sit up ctraight let along haul herself to the end of the bed and out of it seemed to escape the attention of the people carrying out the enquiry. Oh hang on, these were the SAME people tasked with caring for her in the first place. The NHS is rotton to the core; I watched nurses literally drawing lots to decide who's turn it was to deal with a bedpan. I witnessed her having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan and the resulting distress it caused. I witnessed her severe dehydration because nobody had thought to help her drink. The list goes on. I hope the records I've requested show sufficient negligence to persue the hospital in question in the courts. That said, it won't help my Mum - she died two weeks ago.......

Very very sorry to hear this. So many people have had elderly relatives experience sub-standard care and/or neglect.

As mentioned, there needs to be a country-wide and rapid review of policy, procedure and action to improve standards of care, recovery speed and quality and eliminate distress for all concerned.

toldsloth wrote:
Message to the family - don't hold your breath on the outcome of the "inquiry". My Mum fell out of a bed at "large hospital in South London" at 4:00am and fractured her pelvis in four places. This was a bed which supposedly had the sides raised and according to the "Inquiry", she fell out of the bottom of the bed. Lets get something clear, my Mum was 85, had a CDIFF infection, was 5 stone and had been bed-bound for two month following bowel surgery. The fact she couldn't even sit up ctraight let along haul herself to the end of the bed and out of it seemed to escape the attention of the people carrying out the enquiry. Oh hang on, these were the SAME people tasked with caring for her in the first place. The NHS is rotton to the core; I watched nurses literally drawing lots to decide who's turn it was to deal with a bedpan. I witnessed her having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan and the resulting distress it caused. I witnessed her severe dehydration because nobody had thought to help her drink. The list goes on. I hope the records I've requested show sufficient negligence to persue the hospital in question in the courts. That said, it won't help my Mum - she died two weeks ago.......

It's accepted that hospitals nowadays are not all their cracked up to be but hang on a minute, something doesn't add up here? Witnessed mum waiting 35 minutes for a bedpan and witnessed amongst other things mum becoming severly dehydrated because nobody had thought to help her drink. Q. Why if 'toldsloth' witnessed the list of events detailed - and the list that wasn't - didn't he/she do something about it like for example fetching a bedpan for her? No shortage of disposable bedpans in hospitals and one doesn't need radar to locate one. And where were the family of 96 year old Richard, the chap who went home with a cannula still inserted in his arm ( I did once and slipped it out myself when I realised it was still in) when he had to wait 'some time' for an ambulance to take him home? Knowing the elderly gentleman was to be discharged (and if they didn't the family should have made it their business to know what was going on) why didn't they make arrangements for transporting him home? Any wonder the NHS nowadays is buckling at the knees?

hardly surprising this has happened. Many things happen and people are treated in such a fashion. But nothing is ever done about it. Even though people complain about it. This will definately be one of these cases. Sorry to hear this happened.
When vulnerable people are treated this way, cant help but wonder why nothing is done to make sure this never happens again, and again

straightasadye wrote:

toldsloth wrote:
Message to the family - don't hold your breath on the outcome of the "inquiry". My Mum fell out of a bed at "large hospital in South London" at 4:00am and fractured her pelvis in four places. This was a bed which supposedly had the sides raised and according to the "Inquiry", she fell out of the bottom of the bed. Lets get something clear, my Mum was 85, had a CDIFF infection, was 5 stone and had been bed-bound for two month following bowel surgery. The fact she couldn't even sit up ctraight let along haul herself to the end of the bed and out of it seemed to escape the attention of the people carrying out the enquiry. Oh hang on, these were the SAME people tasked with caring for her in the first place. The NHS is rotton to the core; I watched nurses literally drawing lots to decide who's turn it was to deal with a bedpan. I witnessed her having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan and the resulting distress it caused. I witnessed her severe dehydration because nobody had thought to help her drink. The list goes on. I hope the records I've requested show sufficient negligence to persue the hospital in question in the courts. That said, it won't help my Mum - she died two weeks ago.......

It's accepted that hospitals nowadays are not all their cracked up to be but hang on a minute, something doesn't add up here? Witnessed mum waiting 35 minutes for a bedpan and witnessed amongst other things mum becoming severly dehydrated because nobody had thought to help her drink. Q. Why if 'toldsloth' witnessed the list of events detailed - and the list that wasn't - didn't he/she do something about it like for example fetching a bedpan for her? No shortage of disposable bedpans in hospitals and one doesn't need radar to locate one. And where were the family of 96 year old Richard, the chap who went home with a cannula still inserted in his arm ( I did once and slipped it out myself when I realised it was still in) when he had to wait 'some time' for an ambulance to take him home? Knowing the elderly gentleman was to be discharged (and if they didn't the family should have made it their business to know what was going on) why didn't they make arrangements for transporting him home? Any wonder the NHS nowadays is buckling at the knees?

Such a good point.
I've seen relatives screaming at nurses and HCAs about many things, e,g. "aren't ya gonna give my mum a f'in drink" when the relative is sitting by the mother's bed in front of a full water pitcher and glass. Maybe they didn't know how to do the slightest thing for anyone else but himself.

Also relatives who have been at the hospital at the time of discharge home but have declined to give their own mother a lift home because it wasn't convenient and the hospital transport was "free anyway".

006 and a third wrote:

straightasadye wrote:

toldsloth wrote:
Message to the family - don't hold your breath on the outcome of the "inquiry". My Mum fell out of a bed at "large hospital in South London" at 4:00am and fractured her pelvis in four places. This was a bed which supposedly had the sides raised and according to the "Inquiry", she fell out of the bottom of the bed. Lets get something clear, my Mum was 85, had a CDIFF infection, was 5 stone and had been bed-bound for two month following bowel surgery. The fact she couldn't even sit up ctraight let along haul herself to the end of the bed and out of it seemed to escape the attention of the people carrying out the enquiry. Oh hang on, these were the SAME people tasked with caring for her in the first place. The NHS is rotton to the core; I watched nurses literally drawing lots to decide who's turn it was to deal with a bedpan. I witnessed her having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan and the resulting distress it caused. I witnessed her severe dehydration because nobody had thought to help her drink. The list goes on. I hope the records I've requested show sufficient negligence to persue the hospital in question in the courts. That said, it won't help my Mum - she died two weeks ago.......

It's accepted that hospitals nowadays are not all their cracked up to be but hang on a minute, something doesn't add up here? Witnessed mum waiting 35 minutes for a bedpan and witnessed amongst other things mum becoming severly dehydrated because nobody had thought to help her drink. Q. Why if 'toldsloth' witnessed the list of events detailed - and the list that wasn't - didn't he/she do something about it like for example fetching a bedpan for her? No shortage of disposable bedpans in hospitals and one doesn't need radar to locate one. And where were the family of 96 year old Richard, the chap who went home with a cannula still inserted in his arm ( I did once and slipped it out myself when I realised it was still in) when he had to wait 'some time' for an ambulance to take him home? Knowing the elderly gentleman was to be discharged (and if they didn't the family should have made it their business to know what was going on) why didn't they make arrangements for transporting him home? Any wonder the NHS nowadays is buckling at the knees?

Such a good point.
I've seen relatives screaming at nurses and HCAs about many things, e,g. "aren't ya gonna give my mum a f'in drink" when the relative is sitting by the mother's bed in front of a full water pitcher and glass. Maybe they didn't know how to do the slightest thing for anyone else but himself.

Also relatives who have been at the hospital at the time of discharge home but have declined to give their own mother a lift home because it wasn't convenient and the hospital transport was "free anyway".

What a pair of inconsiderate people you are. My mother had a broken pelvis and a CDIFF infection which resulted in severe diarrhoea. Barrier nursing was in place and moving Mum resulted in severe pain. I am not a health professioal and I was unable to safely move my Mum onto a bedpan. The dehydration was witnessed when I arrived at visiting time to find Mum unable to speak because she was so dry. Despite attempts to hydrate her it required the nursing staff to hang fluids to bring her levels back up. It took almost an hour for staff to hang the fluids. Does this answer your ill informed and poorly directed comments? Unfortunately I am burying my Mum this week.

This exact thing happened to me when i was released from the r.s.c.h, Got home and removed it myself, it bled (HEAVILY) for about three hours it was squirting out of my arm!

That cut and paste robot-speak hospital spokeman statement is a sacking offence in my view. Totally insulting.

And someone on the ward will be getting a serious rocket for failing to ensure that canula was not removed but nobody out here will ever hear a word about it.

toldsloth wrote:

006 and a third wrote:

straightasadye wrote:

toldsloth wrote:
Message to the family - don't hold your breath on the outcome of the "inquiry". My Mum fell out of a bed at "large hospital in South London" at 4:00am and fractured her pelvis in four places. This was a bed which supposedly had the sides raised and according to the "Inquiry", she fell out of the bottom of the bed. Lets get something clear, my Mum was 85, had a CDIFF infection, was 5 stone and had been bed-bound for two month following bowel surgery. The fact she couldn't even sit up ctraight let along haul herself to the end of the bed and out of it seemed to escape the attention of the people carrying out the enquiry. Oh hang on, these were the SAME people tasked with caring for her in the first place. The NHS is rotton to the core; I watched nurses literally drawing lots to decide who's turn it was to deal with a bedpan. I witnessed her having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan and the resulting distress it caused. I witnessed her severe dehydration because nobody had thought to help her drink. The list goes on. I hope the records I've requested show sufficient negligence to persue the hospital in question in the courts. That said, it won't help my Mum - she died two weeks ago.......

It's accepted that hospitals nowadays are not all their cracked up to be but hang on a minute, something doesn't add up here? Witnessed mum waiting 35 minutes for a bedpan and witnessed amongst other things mum becoming severly dehydrated because nobody had thought to help her drink. Q. Why if 'toldsloth' witnessed the list of events detailed - and the list that wasn't - didn't he/she do something about it like for example fetching a bedpan for her? No shortage of disposable bedpans in hospitals and one doesn't need radar to locate one. And where were the family of 96 year old Richard, the chap who went home with a cannula still inserted in his arm ( I did once and slipped it out myself when I realised it was still in) when he had to wait 'some time' for an ambulance to take him home? Knowing the elderly gentleman was to be discharged (and if they didn't the family should have made it their business to know what was going on) why didn't they make arrangements for transporting him home? Any wonder the NHS nowadays is buckling at the knees?

Such a good point.
I've seen relatives screaming at nurses and HCAs about many things, e,g. "aren't ya gonna give my mum a f'in drink" when the relative is sitting by the mother's bed in front of a full water pitcher and glass. Maybe they didn't know how to do the slightest thing for anyone else but himself.

Also relatives who have been at the hospital at the time of discharge home but have declined to give their own mother a lift home because it wasn't convenient and the hospital transport was "free anyway".

What a pair of inconsiderate people you are. My mother had a broken pelvis and a CDIFF infection which resulted in severe diarrhoea. Barrier nursing was in place and moving Mum resulted in severe pain. I am not a health professioal and I was unable to safely move my Mum onto a bedpan. The dehydration was witnessed when I arrived at visiting time to find Mum unable to speak because she was so dry. Despite attempts to hydrate her it required the nursing staff to hang fluids to bring her levels back up. It took almost an hour for staff to hang the fluids. Does this answer your ill informed and poorly directed comments? Unfortunately I am burying my Mum this week.

It seems to me toldsloth, that in the face of just criticism, you changed tack.
In your original post you clearly stated that you witnessed your 85 year old Mum having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan. Now in the face of criticism you say it was not a bedpan she waited 35 minutes for but 35 minutes for somebody to put her on one. Well, if the latter was the case then, with your Mum weighing only 5 stones and in "desperate" need of being put on the bedpan, to slip one under her without causing her undue pain was surely not beyond the might of a male or female, and in the particular circumstances was the sensible thing to do?

This sort of thing happens when staff are rushed and stressed. Luckily going home with a cannula in your arm isn't dangerous and is easily rectified. Shouldn't happen though and easily preventable.

Anna Phylactic wrote:
This sort of thing happens when staff are rushed and stressed. Luckily going home with a cannula in your arm isn't dangerous and is easily rectified. Shouldn't happen though and easily preventable.

A voice of reason at last although an addendum to your first line could include "while managers sit in their offices playing with spreadsheets and tweaking kpi's to engineer self-promotion".
Cynical? Just a wee tad!

qm wrote:

Anna Phylactic wrote:
This sort of thing happens when staff are rushed and stressed. Luckily going home with a cannula in your arm isn't dangerous and is easily rectified. Shouldn't happen though and easily preventable.

A voice of reason at last although an addendum to your first line could include "while managers sit in their offices playing with spreadsheets and tweaking kpi's to engineer self-promotion".
Cynical? Just a wee tad!

I must agree ... there are far worse things to worry about with regards to the NHS in general and The Sussex County in specific.

oldbonnet wrote:

toldsloth wrote:

006 and a third wrote:

straightasadye wrote:

toldsloth wrote:
Message to the family - don't hold your breath on the outcome of the "inquiry". My Mum fell out of a bed at "large hospital in South London" at 4:00am and fractured her pelvis in four places. This was a bed which supposedly had the sides raised and according to the "Inquiry", she fell out of the bottom of the bed. Lets get something clear, my Mum was 85, had a CDIFF infection, was 5 stone and had been bed-bound for two month following bowel surgery. The fact she couldn't even sit up ctraight let along haul herself to the end of the bed and out of it seemed to escape the attention of the people carrying out the enquiry. Oh hang on, these were the SAME people tasked with caring for her in the first place. The NHS is rotton to the core; I watched nurses literally drawing lots to decide who's turn it was to deal with a bedpan. I witnessed her having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan and the resulting distress it caused. I witnessed her severe dehydration because nobody had thought to help her drink. The list goes on. I hope the records I've requested show sufficient negligence to persue the hospital in question in the courts. That said, it won't help my Mum - she died two weeks ago.......

It's accepted that hospitals nowadays are not all their cracked up to be but hang on a minute, something doesn't add up here? Witnessed mum waiting 35 minutes for a bedpan and witnessed amongst other things mum becoming severly dehydrated because nobody had thought to help her drink. Q. Why if 'toldsloth' witnessed the list of events detailed - and the list that wasn't - didn't he/she do something about it like for example fetching a bedpan for her? No shortage of disposable bedpans in hospitals and one doesn't need radar to locate one. And where were the family of 96 year old Richard, the chap who went home with a cannula still inserted in his arm ( I did once and slipped it out myself when I realised it was still in) when he had to wait 'some time' for an ambulance to take him home? Knowing the elderly gentleman was to be discharged (and if they didn't the family should have made it their business to know what was going on) why didn't they make arrangements for transporting him home? Any wonder the NHS nowadays is buckling at the knees?

Such a good point.
I've seen relatives screaming at nurses and HCAs about many things, e,g. "aren't ya gonna give my mum a f'in drink" when the relative is sitting by the mother's bed in front of a full water pitcher and glass. Maybe they didn't know how to do the slightest thing for anyone else but himself.

Also relatives who have been at the hospital at the time of discharge home but have declined to give their own mother a lift home because it wasn't convenient and the hospital transport was "free anyway".

What a pair of inconsiderate people you are. My mother had a broken pelvis and a CDIFF infection which resulted in severe diarrhoea. Barrier nursing was in place and moving Mum resulted in severe pain. I am not a health professioal and I was unable to safely move my Mum onto a bedpan. The dehydration was witnessed when I arrived at visiting time to find Mum unable to speak because she was so dry. Despite attempts to hydrate her it required the nursing staff to hang fluids to bring her levels back up. It took almost an hour for staff to hang the fluids. Does this answer your ill informed and poorly directed comments? Unfortunately I am burying my Mum this week.

It seems to me toldsloth, that in the face of just criticism, you changed tack.
In your original post you clearly stated that you witnessed your 85 year old Mum having to wait 35 minutes for a bedpan. Now in the face of criticism you say it was not a bedpan she waited 35 minutes for but 35 minutes for somebody to put her on one. Well, if the latter was the case then, with your Mum weighing only 5 stones and in "desperate" need of being put on the bedpan, to slip one under her without causing her undue pain was surely not beyond the might of a male or female, and in the particular circumstances was the sensible thing to do?

I didn't change tack in the slightest - my original comments were written during my lunchhour so I apologise if there are symantecs at play here or I wasn't completely accurate in my wording. As for slipping a bedpan under my mother - you have no idea how much pain she was in and its easy from the comfort of your chair to simply suggest something that at the time, was impossible. She had four fractures of her pelvis therefore I could have caused serious harm by doing as you suggest. Fortunately unlike you I am intelligent enough to realise the fact. As you are obviously a sad little troll who has nothing better to do than wind others up from behind your screen, I'll just ignore your irellevant mublings from now on. Here's hoping you get all the benefits of the current excellent levels of service next time you're in hospital.

It is indeed a pity that such an inexcusable incident happened to such an exceptional man who now finds himself dealing with the frustrations and frailty of old age, the loss of a wonderful wife a few years ago and now an unfortunate lapse of medical standards. Most of us that the Royal Sussex County Hospital has provided excellent treatment for decades and there are thousands of grateful citizens who have had favorable experiences but now find themselves puzzled by a casual attitude more typical of certain Staffordshire institutions and medical services seemingly controlled by accountants and business managers.
I would like to point out that Mr. Reeve was respected by thousands of boys who passed through the Brighton, Hove & Sussex Grammar School during the 30 years he was Senior Art Master after the Second World War during which time he served his country with distinction even spending time as a mountain warfare instructor. He encouraged many boys to swim competitively, play Water Polo and to enjoy sailing in the sea. He also won the 1937 Pier to Pier race. His sound common sense, advice and insistence on healthy habits were well heeded and now .......... ? I wish his former self could rise from the ashes like the Phoenix and wring a few necks, just figuratively of course.