My husband who is 90 and suffers from vascular dementia was admitted to hospital last week; I visited him every day either on my own or with a friend. It’s a bit of a run to Kilmarnock from where we live, parking is not easy and on this particular day I could only get parking near the maternity hospital and had to walk from there. On Tuesday we were told he would not be sent home until a ‘carers package’ had been set up, the nurses on the ward were not sure when this would be ready.
Yesterday I went to visit my husband in hospital, went to his ward and found his bed empty, no covers on the bed. It was very alarming.
The two nurses at the ward station told me my husband had been discharged and was on his way home. They realized something had gone wrong as I was at the hospital to visit him and tried to contact the ambulance driver to let him know no-one was at home. There was no explanation why I had not been told he was being discharged.
I was worried about my husband not being able to get in the house. In the event one of my neighbours saw the ambulance arrive and told the driver there was no one home. Another neighbour, who has a key, only saw the ambulance after the driver had already somehow got the door open, setting off the alarm in the process. This neighbour sat with my husband until I returned home.
I’m not sure how the driver got my husband into the house – I believe the driver was on his own, there are steps to the door so my husband could not be wheeled in.
My husband was sent home with a some equipment; I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this. A physiotherapist has been arranged; they will come sometime today or next Monday or Tuesday. I will need to wait until then to find out.
The carer who comes to help with my husband helped me with the equipment this morning. She had to call her manager to find out about it. The carer has also checked whether a district nurse will be coming to see my husband – apparently this will be on Monday.
This whole episode has been distressing for both of us.
I was so disappointed and upset. He was so well looked after on the ward, the staff were very kind and caring but to be sent home in this way was dreadful.
"Husband discharged without my knowledge"
About: Crosshouse Hospital / General Medicine Crosshouse Hospital General Medicine KA2 0BE Scottish Ambulance Service / Patient Transport Service Scottish Ambulance Service Patient Transport Service EH12 9EB
Posted by Mountain619 (as ),
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