4.30am – time to go home
SOUTHPORT Hospital has been criticised after a 91-yearold dementia patient was sent home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
David Ross labelled the actions of the hospital ‘‘outrageous’’ after his mum, Jean Patricia Jackson, was woken up and returned to her care home at about 4.30am.
Mrs Jackson, a former civil servant, had been taken to the A&E department on Saturday after not eating or drinking.
Although Mr Ross praised the treatment his mum received, he said he was concerned that elderly or vulnerable patients should not be unsettled by being moved around in the very early hours.
However, hospital bosses say that she was never admitted as an inpatient and that she wouldn’t have left at that time otherwise.
Mrs Jackson was transported by ambulance back to her care home, to which she had transferred from another home a week earlier, but her son said the effect of waking up and transporting an already confused patient in the early hours was ‘‘disgraceful’’.
Instead, he argued, staff could have waited until later that morning.
Mr Ross said: “My mother had to go from the nursing home to the hospital at Southport. They dealt with her problem and it was all fine.
“Then at 4.30 on the Sunday morning, they rang up the nursing home and discharged her.
“I think it is outrageous to be honest. I think it’s disgraceful. If your mother was sent home at that time, what would you think?”
Despite asking senior hospital staff, Mr Ross – who now lives in Kent and had travelled back to visit his mum – said he wasn’t given an explanation of why it happened or whether it was normal procedure.
He said he was happy with the treatment his mum received until it came to time to discharge her.
“I just want to highlight it so it doesn’t happen to anyone else. I personally think it’s wrong and shouldn’t happen to anyone else.’’
“We all know that beds are like gold dust but people still shouldn’t be treated like that.”
Sheila Lloyd, director of nursing, midwifery and therapies, said that the decision to take Mrs Jackson home was taken in her best inter- ests and that staff had been in contact with the care home throughout.
She said: “We are working with our partners in the local NHS and social care to improve the care for frailer, older people.
“Very shortly we hope to agree measures that allow our doctors or a community geriatrician to visit patients at home or in a care home and, if safe, avoid a hospital admission.
“In this instance, the doctors and nurses caring for Mrs Jackson acted in her best interests at all times while she was our patient.
“When treatment was complete, Mrs Jackson’s doctor agreed the best and safest place for her was in a familiar environment at her nursing home with her carers.
“This decision was taken in line with trust policy for patients who attend A&E but are not admitted to hospital.
“Mrs Jackson was taken home by ambulance and the trust was in touch with her nursing home ahead of her leaving hospital.”