Ulster Hospital "neglect" criticism

Ulster Hospital "neglect" criticism

THE family of a pensioner hospitalised at the Ulster Hospital after suffering a seizure has claimed she was “truly neglected” during her 12-day stay.

Donna Peters has urged the South Eastern Trust to investigate a series of errors and oversights that she says caused unnecessary distress to her 69 year-old mother Anne following her emergency admission while on holiday in the Downpatrick area.

Anne’s family, who live in Wales, was initially shocked by the first delay in her treatment after her ambulance was forced to by-pass the Downe Hospital’s closed 

casualty unit en route to Dundonald on February 24.

However, Donna admits this became a minor issue in comparison to the ‘neglect’ she later experienced, which included a seven hour wait in accident and emergency for admission, a fall while left unattended on a commode, an undiagnosed broken wrist and a 29-hour wait for an X-ray.

She said she was also particularly dismayed by the use of a canula in Anne’s left arm despite repeated warnings from her family that this arm should not be used for medical treatment due to the risk of swelling following the removal of lymph nodes as part of a mastectomy.

Other issues, that Donna feels may be less significant, were also distressing including the fact her mother was not showered or bathed in 12 days except for bed baths, one of which was carried out by a male nurse, that she was left in bed covered in food after attempting to feed herself while in a confused state and that she soiled her bed after staff were unable to respond to a buzzer call in time.

Donna said issues arose when she visited her mum for the first time to learn she had fallen off a commode after being left unattended.

Donna says she was later upset to suspect Anne may have broken her wrist in the fall, only to face a further 29-hour wait for an x-ray, which confirmed the fracture.

“I believe my mum broke her wrist during the fall from the commode, which should never have happened as she was very obviously ill and confused and unable to support herself alone,” said Donna.

“Staff seemed totally unaware of my mum’s pain. It was only two days after the fall when she screamed as I was making her comfortable in bed, that I knew something was wrong with her arm.”

Due to the delays in diagnosis and casting, Donna says her mum’s wrist is now permanently disfigured. Doctors have advised against having it rebroken and recast due to the associated pain and recovery time.

Donna is also angry about the ion of a canula into her mum’s left hand, despite repeated insistence by her family that this should not be done.

“When my mum first became ill my dad told paramedics and hospital staff not to use her left arm for treatment and explained why,” said Donna.

“When I arrived at the hospital the following day, I re-informed staff about this.

“I was so annoyed then on my next visit to see that the canula was in place on that side. I spoke to a nurse who said she had noticed this had been done but had not taken it out.

“It was finally removed and a note was put up above her bed warning other staff not to make the same mistake. My mum’s hand was badly swollen and very bruised at this stage although in retrospect I am not sure if that is because there was already an unnoticed break or if it was because of the canula.”

Donna said her mum was also very upset following a bed bath by a male nurse, which she felt had stripped her of her dignity.

“We understand that that is his job and that there is a shortage of staff, but my mum was very uncomfortable about this,” she said.

“She is 69 years-old and in her mind this was not appropriate.

Donna says her family was later shocked, on March 7, to learn that Ann was being discharged despite the fact that she still could not walk unaided.

She said they returned home to Wales one week later where further follow-up treatment was needed.

“I feel like I let my mum down by allowing her to suffer the neglect she did during her stay at the Ulster,” said Donna.

“I realise there are shortages and just wish she could have been treated at the Downe, which probably would have been much less busy and where the nurses may have had the time needed to ensure their patients are fully looked after.

“Even taking into consideration the overworked staff, the patient neglect in our case was disgusting. Would the nurses like their own mothers to be left in a bed with food on her face and clothes?

“I just wanted to get my mum out of there and back home to Wales where I knew we would properly care for her.”

A spokeswoman for the South Eastern HSC Trust, which was contacted on Thursday about Anne’s story, said the Trust was disappointed with the Down Recorder’s decision to publish the account without giving Trust officials the opportunity to investigate and respond.

“We will thoroughly investigate this complaint, and as soon as the review is complete, we will contact the family with our findings,” she said.

The Peters family sent an official letter of complaint to the SERT last week.