"Great care, poor communication"

About: Older people's healthcare / Stroke Unit Ward 40

(as a relative),

My 90-year-old mother was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital with a suspected stroke and Covid. She spent 2 weeks in Ward 40, 10 days in isolation.

My mother spoke very highly of all the staff members and the care they provided. As her daughter, I was unable to visit from England because of the isolation policy . Communication between us was facilitated by use of the ward's mobile phone, and by a doctor who was able to deliver my email correspondence.

At my request the staff agreed to source new batteries for my mother's hearing aids from the hospital Audiology Dept. It took 3 days for the request to be actioned. Due to a misunderstanding between the ward and the Audiology Dept, my mother's hearing aids went missing for 4 days and a temporary pair were issued which weren't effective.

Following extensive communication between the ward,  Audiolgy and myself, my mother is now in possession of her own hearing aids and a face-to-face revise appointment has been arranged, for which we are very greatful. 

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Responses

Response from Ann-Marie McIImoyle, Stroke Service Improvement Manager, Stroke Services, WHSCT 2 years ago
We have made a change
Ann-Marie McIImoyle
Stroke Service Improvement Manager, Stroke Services,
WHSCT
Submitted on 21/11/2022 at 22:17
Published on Care Opinion on 22/11/2022 at 09:41


picture of Ann-Marie McIImoyle

Dear Afasic,

Thank you for taking the time to give feedback on your mothers care on ward 40, I am delighted to hear she felt well cared for, however I am disappointed in relation to your mothers hearing aids going missing. I have made some telephone calls to the Audiology team and on further investigation a ward 40 agency colleague made a mistake and left your mothers hearing aids in the wrong department. Therefore I have advised that only ward 40 nursing staff take responsibility for ensuring the delivery of hearing aids to the audiology department. I have also informed all ward staff of the drop off point for audiology to ensure this mistake does not reoccur. Going forward I have advised all the nursing staff, when we send hearing aids for repair to audiology we will follow up with a telephone call to audiology to ensure they have received them and agree an approximate date for repair. I apologise for the inconvenience caused to you and your mother. I hope your mother is continuing to do well at home.

Kind Regards

Ann-Marie McIlmoyle

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