NHS; I should have known better

[Brown and Boris]

I have come to the conclusion that the NHS is just one big platitude and jargon machine.

After two successive unsafe and supported discharges of my elderly mother-in-law from hospital and subsequent readmissions a few weeks later, this time we vowed to get it right. Had a meeting last Friday with a doctor, two cardiac nurses, an occupational therapist, discharge nurse, two social workers, a physio and ward staff it was agreed there would be a package in place to make sure she could go home safely today and that her 74 year hubby could manage her very serious illness with the district nurse, GP and cardiac nurse's support.


We bought an electrically operated bed and installed a stairlift. They supplied a shower chair.


Today, they packed her bags without telling us, telling her they needed her bed and said that if some home care couldn't be sorted today they would put her in a care home. Social worker says they cannot get a carer in and cannot give us a date by which it might be arranged. Bit of a hobson's choice: have her put in a care home or take her home and in their words 'muddle through'.


Looks like we are ending up having to sort our own home care (God knows how) and make sure everyone who should know, does know.


They are great at holding meetings, reassuring you that things won't go wrong this time with all the right management speak, commiting to 'improving' and bamboozling and bullying old ladies.

Pity they couldn't give a stuff.

Rant over, busy finding a night carer.

[HUW JONES]

Sounds about right...sadly.

[BigAlinEmbra]

So what you seem to be saying is that she's fit enough to be out of an acute hospital, but as the council can't sort social care it's the NHS's fault?

[RRS_Staffs]

+1

It sounds to me like she is well enough to leave hospital

Therefore the NHS appear to have done a sterling job

The foul up lies elsewhere in the well-fare state

[BlackVanGirl]

You have the council to thank for this, not the hospital (although discharging someone into an unsafe environment through inadequate care is negligent, not to mention downright disgraceful). DO NOT put her in a nursing home. Unless she and you are very lucky this will lead to rapid deterioration in her quality of life, closely followed by her physical wellbeing as she 'gives up' and that'll be that.

Going rate for night care is ~£27-30/night for a sleepover (where the carer/support worker is there in case of emergency but will mostly be able to go to sleep etc)

If there is a spare bedroom it may be a viable option to put together a package where someone gets free room and board in exchange for x amount of hours per week of support. Often the most cost-effective way to get in-home care/support.

If you're struggling for recruitment, get yourself onto the local jobs section of gumtree.com, last ad I put there got 45 respondents .

Very best of luck, I've got lots of (too much) experience as a social care 'client' and if you've any more questions I'll do my best to help.

[Brown and Boris]

BlackVanGirl said:

You have the council to thank for this, not the hospital (although discharging someone into an unsafe environment through inadequate care is negligent, not to mention downright disgraceful). DO NOT put her in a nursing home. Unless she and you are very lucky this will lead to rapid deterioration in her quality of life, closely followed by her physical wellbeing as she 'gives up' and that'll be that.

Going rate for night care is ~£27-30/night for a sleepover (where the carer/support worker is there in case of emergency but will mostly be able to go to sleep etc)

If there is a spare bedroom it may be a viable option to put together a package where someone gets free room and board in exchange for x amount of hours per week of support. Often the most cost-effective way to get in-home care/support.

If you're struggling for recruitment, get yourself onto the local jobs section of gumtree.com, last ad I put there got 45 respondents .

Very best of luck, I've got lots of (too much) experience as a social care 'client' and if you've any more questions I'll do my best to help.

Thanks very much for that. I am about to speak with the private care provider about what they provide and when, and how quickly the level of care can be increased or decreased as needs rise and fall.

We did think about finding someone ourselves but worried abiout the whole 'employment' thing and of course the CRB issues.

[artywiz]

They may not be able to get you a council care package but have they discussed direct payments with you? It means you can hire who ever you want (within reason, even a family memeber as long as they don't live in the same house) but you still get the money (set rates ....about 18 quid in this area per hour for agency, about 11 for non- agency) from social services. It won't happen over night but you should get it backdated to when mum came out of hospital. I assume the hospital SW carried out an assessment of need?

I know most on PH think SW are effing useless therefore don't post often but if you need more advice about how to go about things pm me.

[Brown and Boris]

artywiz said:

They may not be able to get you a council care package but have they discussed direct payments with you? It means you can hire who ever you want (within reason, even a family memeber as long as they don't live in the same house) but you still get the money (set rates ....about 18 quid in this area per hour for agency, about 11 for non- agency) from social services. It won't happen over night but you should get it backdated to when mum came out of hospital. I assume the hospital SW carried out an assessment of need?

I know most on PH think SW are effing useless therefore don't post often but if you need more advice about how to go about things pm me.

Thanks for that, I think things are cleareow. There has been a SW needs assessment, but they couldn't geta supplier in time. I spke ith the council and the agency who have been asked to supply the support today and the SW is caling to do the financial assessment early next week. I recall that as they have more than £24k in the bank they will be asked to make a contribution up to £200 a week tapering until their savings hit £11K.

[artywiz]

Glad things are looking clearer, unfortunatly the hospitals have a habit of discharging/moving patients when they feel like it- I've been to visit a client in hospital only to find they have moved them to a community hospital the previous evening without telling anyone!

Make sure you see the careplan that the agency have, you should also have a copy- the financial assessment is on what your MIL has not what they have joint so bear that in mind when completing the paperwork. I hope the agancy works out ok for her.

Liz

[Lucie W]

I work as a carer during the holidays and often see people in your situation - their relative is discharged from hospital and the family is unsure about what to do next. As other people have said, it's not the NHS's responsibility but I do sympathise with you. Social services seems to be a complete mess, needs overhauling IMO.