"Lack of personal hygiene care"

My mother-in-law has been in hospital for periods over the last year. And I am shocked at the lack of personal hygiene care in her admissions, especially laterally.

She has had a stroke 20 years ago, she is dysphasic and gradually her mobility and capability to self care has diminished.  She has become unable to mobilise to the bathrooms now, being a stroke victim she tends to sweat more and requires showering and hair washed at least every 2nd day. On one admission in Ninewells we asked for 4 consecutive days to get her showered, and in the end I showered her myself, this was still when she could mobilise. The ward was very short staffed -  the nurses kept telling us - so we did not follow this up. 

On this occasion ward 1 was busy but there was always an abundance of staff around. But yet on several occasions Mum was not showered or even cleaned after a meal (food on face and clothing). Her hair needed washing and this began to upset us and her greatly. I am a nurse myself and I am sad we seem to have lost these basic care skills in some areas of our Trust.  I understand when she was acutely ill the showers are out of question, but a full bed bath even at night surely isn't unexceptable? 

I do want to say the nursing care she received in other areas was great, the staff in ward 1 were attentive in other areas of care but not this one.

I think the cherry on the cake was when mum was moved ward, into ward 1 and on the step down I was there on her arrival and she was in a awful state, she was in a very dirty/food soiled nightdress and food on her face again! That's what has led me writing this.