"What we needed was advice"

My relative was in Lagan Valley Hospital, ward 14 for 'assessment and rehab' following a fall, and fracture which meant they were non-weight bearing through one leg.

The Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy staff assessed my relative on/off toilet, bed and chair.  Physio also assessed my relative on the stairs once in the 2 weeks that they remained on the 'rehab ward'.

Based on this they deemed my relative who is completely mentally intact and alert to have no safety awareness and therefore unsafe to go home - no cognitive assessments where done to back this up as there was no cognitive impairment.  Based on a few sit to stands from a bed/chair/toilet the Occupational and Physio therapy staff deemed my relative to need a full care package of 4 calls per day in order to be allowed home.  My relative was then left to sit at the bedside for weeks to wait on this care package.

We were given a red cross wheelchair leaflet by Occupational therapy to hire a chair as my relative was 'unable to mobilise with the zimmer'. We weren't told what size or type of chair to get. The leaflet was several years out of date and collection of the chair was nowhere accessible to us.

For someone deemed immobile - my relative wasn't even given the chance to try a self-propelled wheelchair on the 'assessment and rehab ward'.  We asked about physio trying my relative with alternative walking aids as their arthritis made hopping with a zimmer difficult. This never happened.

My relative was given a toilet frame and stool by the Occupational therapist but not told how to use them - nothing about managing basic kitchen tasks or personal care while seated, nothing about how to set up the kitchen with all items within reach, or how to move things about when using a walking aid.  The equipment is very useful.

With the physio staff - my relative and us, found it very confusing as the rehab assistant talked over and argued with what the actual physio staff were telling us - it seemed the other staff listened to them more than the physios. We felt awkward and sorry for the actual physios who couldn't get a word in at times. 

We took our relative home to await the full care package as the lack of activity was rapidly making someone who was fully independent and active before they had their injury / admission to this ward - frailer.  When we did we quickly realised that the care package wasn't needed - what was needed was advice about how to set up their home for all tasks to be completed while seated, how to exercise and strengthen at home and some other basic equipment / different walking aid - which we had to self purchase as the community rehab Occupational therapist never showed up.

Very disappointed that someone's needs were assessed by getting on and off a bed, chair and toilet a few times rather than actually looking at the things they need to do, like washing, dressing, cooking, driving, paying bills and shopping.  A bit of time checking over these every day tasks could mean people not needlessly being made frail and taking up unneeded care packages.

Nurses, student nurses, porters, cleaners and all ward support staff were lovely.