"Distressed when it could have been avoided"

Firstly lets begin with what was good. My Mum (an elderly lady with a history of Alzheimer's) was brought to ED via ambulance and had a relatively short wait outside. She was found to have pneumonia, she was admitted to 2North. The care she received on the ward was exemplary, the staff are a credit to the hospital. 

Mum's consultant decided to discharge her 2 days later. I expressed concerns over this early discharge but was assured that Mum had responded well to treatment and would continue on oral antibiotics at home. When my Dad arrived to visit in the afternoon Mum had been moved to the discharge lounge . I had not been made aware of this move. Dad contacted me as Mum was agitated. I came over and sat with her, I was told her ambulance home was originally booked for 4pm had been delayed until 5pm.  During this time 3 other patients where brought to the discharge lounge to await ambulance transfers. At around 4.45pm I left the hospital to prepare the house for Mum's return. I asked the nurse on duty to call me when Mum was leaving. 

At 8pm I had a call from the discharge lounge saying Mum wanted me, she was distressed and crying stating she was all alone in the room and scared. I came back to the hospital where I found this to be true. The other patients brought down some 3 hours after Mum had gone home. I would like to point out at this time there where 4 empty Jk ambulances sitting outside the front of the hospital.

I asked to speak to the Bed Manager, who took my call as they were in handover and could not come down in person. I expressed anger and disgust at 1) Mum had an unnecessary move which causes upset in dementia patients and 2) that she had been waiting so long and was left distressed. They explained that someone else's responsible for booking ambulances. It should not, in my opinion, be on an admin assistant to ensure patients are collected, but the job of the Bed manager. Their responsibility to the patient should not end when they have been removed from a ward space . Mum did eventually get home, exhausted, distressed and upset.

I was indeed correct in expressing concerns over early discharge as Mum then needed to be treated with IV antibiotics.

I strongly feel that dementia patients should not be subjected to unnecessary moves. I appreciate the bed pressures but seeing my Mum so distressed when it could have been avoided has left a bad feeling.