My elderly parent was recently taken to emergency by ambulance after 3 days of being unwell at with increasing weakness, drowsiness and in a dilerium.
I feel the treatment by the ED doctor was traumatic to say the least for my parent and family.
We were basically told nothing wrong with my parent and to take them home organise 24hr care and stick them in a nursing home.
I would like to point out that my parent prior to their presentation to ED they were living independently at home.
They did not ask us prior to reaching that conclusion what at happened over the prior days nor did they communicate with significant others what our concerns were with my parent's health.
When I questioned how the doctor came to the conclusion of putting in a nursing home I recall I was abruptly cut off and then told another doctor from the ward will review.
I then received a call from the new doctor who basically told me my parent was old and this was part of aging. I voiced my concerns that they were unwell and their current condition was not normal and we were very concerned.
That doctor then told me my parent was fine and was not going to admit them.
I told them I was not going to take my parent home in their current condition. I recall they then abruptly said I will not admit consider a nursing home because of their age.
I then said I will do a care call and I recall the doctors both then said whatever that is your choice.
After carecall I was told we will admit to ED overnight and discharge on morning.
Meanwhile my parent was becoming more dilerius, their Blood pressure was in the 200s. They also found overnight my parent was dehydrated and had fractured ribs.
In the morning they again said they will discharge my parent I then did another carecall when a third doctor came from ward and reviewed my parent and promptly admitted them to the ward.
During my parent's time on ward they became more dilerius I had told the hospital over and over again to call me during the night if they were unsettled in any way and I would come sit with them. They did not do this and instead sedated my parent to the point that they became unresponsive and then had to do a MER call on my parent and give drugs to reverse the sedation.
We have been severely traumatised by the whole event.
My parent is now to scared to ever go back to hospital which I feel is so unfair when especially you are elderly.
"Treatment of my parent at the hospital"
About: Geraldton Hospital / Emergency Department Geraldton Hospital Emergency Department Geraldton 6530
Posted by papars74 (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Ranjit Paul