Its A Joke. Dont Dare Be Ill!

[nailit]

My 85 yr old mum was admitted last Saturday to A&E. She had a really painful arm, (thought that she had broke it) an arm that was fitted with a metal plate 2 yrs ago after a fracture. After 13 hrs in A&E and numerous tests...scans, bloods and xrays...she was taken onto an oncology ward and was told that she had bone cancer and needs palliative care.
She has been discharged today with a promise to refer her back to the original surgeon who fitted the plate in her arm for further exploration (she has bone missing in her arm apparently)
*The surgeon is on holiday for 3 weeks, so have got to wait for an appointment with him.
*was promised that a care team would come out shortly after her discharge (at 1pm) to discuss further home care. They never showed!
* Her meds were taken of her while in hospital and were replaced with someone elses. My sister has had to go back at 5 oclock tonight to pick up her script.

If my mum didn't have family to take care of her she would have been f *****!
What the hell is up with the NHS that they cant co-ordinate between departments?
This is a very sick old lady?
To top it all they are on about taking her arm off when a surgeon has previously told her that he wouldn't find an anetheatist willing to take such a risk given her previous medical history of heart disease, kidney failure and an undiagnosed liver problem.

We all feel like we have just been left to watch our mum die in pain.

[marval]

I am so sorry to hear this Nailit, your poor Mum.

This is no way for her and your family to be treated.

I hope that someone can offer you advice, and you can get the help you so desperately need.

[Old_Geezer]

Precisely. Which is why it's unlikely they'll decide to amputate. Very recently, my now late, aunt had issues with her foot. As she already had cancer and was already way psst the time the medical profession thought she'd last, they left it. It wasn't going to be worth removing in the time she had left, controlling pain was the priority.

[nailit]

Thanks Marval! Appriciate it.

//Which is why it's unlikely they'll decide to amputate//
Then why mention it as an option? (which it isn't given her health)?
Just a load of boolarks, why cant they just be truthful?

[tinkerbell23]

Nailit could you contact her GP on Monday to ensure she has enough meds & they can put you in touch with community services.

Or call Macmillan?

Sorry to hear your sad news.

X

[tinkerbell23]

By the way..... for what its worth I am in Scotland but

- not unusual to wait 3 weeks to see a surgeon- if he is on holiday theres not much that can be done about that sadly.

Should Mum have come home if she isnt able to do the same things as before she was admitted?? The options locally here are stay in hospital till a package of care is in place which can be difficult OR... many families particularly in a palliative situation prefer to “bridge the gap” & take the family member home to care for them between themselves.

- I have never known a team to visit on the day of discharge in my life however this may be a thing in England? Have a look at Carers Support as you are caring for Mum too!!

You might find that she may not need extra care at present but a Macmillan nurse would be nice or similar ... for when her condition changes, so that you all have support & can be put in touch with the correct services xxx

[margarettom]

Perhaps her doctor could get her a place in the local hospice. She would get excellent pain relief and palliative care there.