"My husband's recent stay"

My husband was taken by ambulance to Wishaw Hospital. He has Advanced Parkinson's, and had an infection.

Upon arrival, there were no beds available, and we remained in the ambulance. My husband's dyskinesia was severe. He was constantly asking for water. The crew  did really well with supporting him to drink. After a couple of hours, my husband became really hot.  His temperature had soared to 40 degrees. The crew alerted the staff in the hospital, and began delivering paracetamol by a drip and fluids. Gradually, my husband's temperature began to reduce. Eventually, three hours in, the crew was told that he could be transferred into the hospital.

In the hospital, we found ourselves in a small holding area close to A&E. The ambulance crew remained to hand over. My husband was absolutely exhausted. A medic appeared. The first thing the medic asked me was if I would agree to a DNR certificate for my husband! I was shocked that this was the conversation we were having when my husband was so unwell and stressed. I said no. They asked about my husband - if he was still with it, in earshot of my husband.

We were then moved into a side room in A&E. The medic returned, again asking me about a DNR cert. Again, I said no. They asked why, with a hint of frustration in their voice. I shared my concerns. They suggested that it's better to have the discussion now than in an early morning call, and that it was in fact the decision which would be reached by health staff anyway. I still said no. They then asked my husband, who answered no as strongly as he could. This left my husband feeling very anxious, upset and scared.

My husband remained in the side room all day. He was told that he would have a chest x-ray, but that didn't happen while there. His dyskinesia remained severe, but his temperature reduced. 

The next morning, I found that my husband had been moved into the Emergency Ward. By lunchtime, he had finally been moved into a ward for Elderly Care. I asked about the chest x-ray. Nothing had been passed over, but they said they would note that it was outstanding. The next day, my husband told me that his condition had worsened, and that, at midnight, he had been taken for a chest x-ray. It was found that he has a chest infection in addition to the urine infection.

Then it was announced that someone in the ward had tested positive for Covid. Masks and aprons were issued, and the door closed. I had been watching this patient in the course of the day as they twice moved across to the bed next to theirs and sat on it. They weren't staying in their bed space.

I expressed concern about the fact that my husband, who is in the highest risk group, was sharing space with someone Covid positive. The nurses drew the curtains round my husband. They explained that there was nowhere in the hospital for the man to be moved to, and that they had escalated the issue. 

I went home, leaving my husband with his mask on, and the patient with Covid separated by a curtain. When I returned the next morning, the patient had been moved and the ward was back to usual. A nurse said to me that my husband had been agitated during the night, had wanted his mask off, and so they had removed it. I was astounded! We had, with great diligence, kept my husband safe throughout all this period. I told the nurse that he hadn't been agitated - that it was dyskinesia, and that he would not have wanted his mask removed. My husband confirmed this.

My tone may well have been one of annoyance. The nurse left to speak with another nurse at the desk, who came in. This nurse said to me that hospitals are risky places; that they personally have had Covid four times; that visitors bring Covid risks; that it isn't a private hospital with single rooms. I said that I wouldn't wish a private hospital, don't expect single rooms, but do expect my husband to be protected from risk. I expressed my full support for the nurses. They went on to say that it's my choice that he's in hospital, that I could take him home - of course, without the strong antibiotics. Go on then, the nurse indicated, waving their hands. I was astounded. I pointed out that he does, of course, need the strong antibiotics. I was taken aback by this level of unprofessionalism. On my way out, I apologised to the nurse who had removed the mask for my tone. I note that they didn't apologise for removing the mask.

A few days later, I tested positive. My husband, of course, also tested positive. He was moved into a side room, where he remained until his discharge. We had thought that he would be prescribed antivirals because he is eligible. However, it wasn't until several days later that antivirals were prescribed. Fortunately, his Covid symptoms were mild. 

My husband was, finally, able to return home, by ambulance. He came home with an envelope addressed to him. It was a DNR Certificate. 

I am, of course, concerned that my husband had to be treated in the ambulance for so long, and about the delay in moving to a ward, but understand that hospitals are under huge strain, with pressures beyond their own control. I am, however, extremely concerned that a measure as significant as a DNR Certificate was raised at a time of extreme medical and emotional stress, and in such an insensitive and anxiety provoking way. Sending a copy home too, in an envelope for my husband to open with only myself there to provide support appears heartless.

I am also concerned about the inadequate infection control measures in place for someone at high risk from Covid, and about the manner of the nurse who spoke with me when I expressed concern about the removal of the mask.