Woman faces two-hour drive to care for her elderly mum

An Auckland woman with no nursing experience has been told she has to drive two hours to care for her ill mother while nurses go on strike.

Maureen Lennon said she was appalled to receive a phone call yesterday from a staff nurse at Thames Hospital implying that either she looked after her 86-year-old mother or she will be left unattended.

Her elderly mother has been in hospital for nearly three weeks after a fall that broke her pelvis, as well as suffering an ongoing bowel issue.

“My concern is my mum’s safety. There’s quite a lot involved in managing her care.

“I’ll do the best I can for my mother and of course I’ll be there but I’m extremely worried.”

Lennon said she will be expected to shower, toilet and attend to her mother’s every need without backup.

“I understand doctors will be doing medication rounds but that’s about it.”

With less than 24 hours’ notice Lennon said she had no option but to urgently leave her work and drive

My concern is my mum’s safety . . . I’ll do the best I can and of course I’ll be there but I’m extremely worried. Maureen Lennon

to Thames last night so she can be at the hospital by 7am today.

She had been offered a reclining chair to sleep on while the strikes go through the night.

A Waikato District Health Board spokesperson confirmed families were being asked to care for their loved ones while nurses were on strike but they would not be expected to travel from another city.

“We don’t really have a choice. Our priority is life-threatening patients,” the spokesperson said.

Lennon said she worried about the safety of the patients.

The DHB spokesperson said that at the moment Thames Hospital had 20 inpatients and two nurses would be on duty during the strikes. “I can assure they will be cared for.”