Barry Long at home in Hove. Photo: Andrew Hasson/The Guardian
“My 91-year-old mother fell over trying to go to the bathroom and broke her hip”
My mother is 91 and diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He was admitted to Worthing Hospital on May 30 after a minor fall. She was a little confused, but otherwise intact, a little agitated. While in hospital, she contracted Covid and had to self-isolate, which she found disturbing and increasingly disoriented. She was declared medically fit to be discharged, but no residential bed was found for her. Then, in August, she was left unsupervised and fell over while trying to go to the bathroom and broke her hip, which required surgery. While under anesthetic her wedding ring and another gold ring were removed and she has not been seen since. I believe they are stolen, but the hospital claims they are just “lost”. Her hip was almost healed when she caught her shin between the side rails and the bed frame, cutting her shin so badly that she is being examined by a plastic surgeon to see if she needs a skin graft. Since the operation, my mom has been almost bedridden and living in a state of confusion and anxiety. Her physical health and mental well-being have deteriorated significantly in the almost five months she has spent in NHS care. She spends the whole day almost trapped in bed, staring into space or with her eyes closed, just rocking back and forth. He has little mental stimulation. Marian Long, 91, with her son Barry Long and great-grandson Louis. Photo: Courtesy of the Long Family During her time in hospital she has contracted Covid, had to be put into isolation twice, broke her hip and cut her shins four or five times on the bed frame, the last time seriously. She was overmedicated, understimulated and often ignored. She has lost money, clothes, her mobile phone – later found, but not before I had to buy a replacement – her favorite pillow, which was like a quilt, her wedding ring and other jewellery. Barry Long, 62, site manager from Hove in East Sussex Amanda Bird. Photo: Andrew Hasson/The Guardian
“I saw firsthand how broken the process is”
My father went into hospital on October 3rd and was deemed medically fit to be discharged on October 8th. We were told that a care package would be arranged as part of the discharge process and he would not leave hospital without it – ie carers visiting his home. Despite feeling guilty that he was using the hospital bed unnecessarily, I was torn about whether to take him home and struggle to care for him alone or wait for someone to contact me to let me know that care had been arranged. I was told that if he left the hospital without the plan there would be no help. No staff could inform me or tell me who to contact. I began to think that I should seek care privately to take him home. I finally got a call from the care team on October 15th. I was told that all discharge care was triage and I asked if my father’s finances were such that he could afford to pay for the care. I told her that my father had been in the hospital for a week longer than necessary without any contact with anyone. He said the team would continue on the 17th to discuss the care plan. Amanda Bird and her father, Colin Rutt. Photo: Andrew Hasson/The Guardian I took it upon myself to call Action for Carers to get advice and support and to call the social care team to try and get a care plan going. Action for Carers had a person dedicated to helping families and patients in hospital. The decision was overturned and he was home with a care program within 48 hours. He stayed 11 days longer than necessary in hospital, blocking a bed and costing a fortune. I saw first hand how broken the process is and how costly it is to block a bed and the wider consequences. Amanda Bird, from Oxted in Surrey Michael Horsley, an artist from Cromer in Norfolk. Photo: Michael Horsley
“I started to lose hope”
I was admitted to the hospital because I had sepsis. I was given an antibiotic and recovered. About 10 days later I got Covid in the hospital and had to spend a week in isolation. I became very depressed and weak, almost unable to move at all. During the night I was physically threatened twice by a dementia patient who was holding a walking frame. I was terrified, calling for help – it took a long time for staff to respond and was eventually subdued by four security staff. It was very difficult to sleep throughout my stay, but these events made sleep almost impossible. My mental well-being had been seriously shaken. Three ulcers developed on my leg due to being prone in a bedridden position. My wife noticed the ulcers during the visit as the leg was exposed and not dressed. She was very shocked and tried various methods to properly dress my leg. Even so, the bandage was hardly ever changed after that and my leg became very painful. This is a dangerous situation because I am diabetic – it could have been completely avoided if there had been adequate staff, care and attention. Then I had to wait at the hospital to be discharged. I received conflicting information, one person informed me that I was 26th on the list to be released to rehab. Another doctor told me I could be here for months. In the end I had to wait for over two weeks, trapped in a Goyaesque wing. The chamber was very full. Most of the patients were very ill and bedridden, one or two were well enough to go home – but they were waiting to be discharged. I was only given two bed baths during my five week stay due to a lack of staff and developed two pressure sores. I started to lose hope. I am very hard of hearing so rely on honesty in part. The staff did their best but were wearing masks which made communication very difficult. My wife was invaluable, catching up on progress and relaying information to me. There were very few staff and they were overworked dealing with a multitude of issues – they did the best they could. I was very unhappy to close the bed, knowing that others needed nursing care. The release came as a surprise when I was told I would be leaving the next day, bound for rehab at a care facility near my home in Cromer. I am still in a lot of pain and walking is still very difficult, the leg is now infected and I am on antibiotics. Michael Horsley, 80, artist from Cromer in Norfolk.
