My 87 yr old father in law was discharged from a central London hospital on a Palliative Care package, he had been seen by McMillan Nurses prior to discharge who informed him that he had weeks, not months to live.
All the evidence pointed towards a fast growing Mesothelioma in his left chest wall, which had spread to three ribs; he had scoliosis which had developed in his 60's and this mass was in the side with greatest lung capacity.
He had entered this hospital by happenstance, he developed Uro-Sepsis and a hyper-Caleaemia. A raft of tests followed inc CT scans and Lung biopsy. Can't fault the hospital at all.
An air bed was ordered and toilet frame. The package of Care was to include the local hospice, District Palliative Care, the Council were to provide a Carer X3 a day and of course the GP. Fantastic I thought, my 93 yr old mother in law ( who has dementia) will be well supported. Wrong.
Despite several calls to the Hospice requesting reassessment and help, he was not seen by any medical personnel in the 14 days between discharge and his death. The untrained carer did visit x3 a day every day until the last three days, when she turned twice a day, 11am and 9pm, it was a bank holiday weekend.
My FIL had signed a DNAR in hospital and I was aware of his wishes to not be " messed around with", last contact with the hospice was two days before his death, my Sister in law called just hours before, the response was the same" Someone will visit tomorrow ".
We had the call no one wants to receive the next morning; My MIL in a bit of panic said "He's very pale and cold and I can't wake him up", We're on our way...
An hour later our worst fears were confirmed; he was dead, he had been dead for several hours, rigor mortis had set in. My husband his sister and my Mother in law were in shock. I called the GP practice who reluctantly put me through to a GP who promised to be with us shortly. GP " what was the diagnosis? ", me: we were told possibly Mesothelioma... GP " can you call the hospital to find out?" Me: ok.
GP " because he got a diagnosis and hasn't been seen by a GP in 14 days I have to refer this to the Coroner, don't make any funeral arrangements"
I called the hospital and spoke to the very nice Registrar who promised to chase the Chest biopsy results. We had a reply some 3 days later, the cancer was a Squamous Cell Carcinoma, the same as his previous multiple ear and Parotid/ neck cancers, which makes sense.
Next, called the hospice, explained that FIL had died and asked for reassurance that my MIL would be offered bereavement counselling, " We are sorry to hear of your loss, of course I will make sure that happens"........No contact at all, eight months on we are still waiting.
Last weekend, my MIL receives a friends and family " How are we doing?" Questionnaire from the hospice, she handed it to me to deal with.... I hardly know where to start.
I complained to the GP, there was going to be an investigation.... waiting for Practice Manager to get back from her holiday....."We will notify you shortly, oh by the way we are always happy to hear from concerned relatives, why didn't you call us?"
This answer beggers belief, countless phone calls to all concerned and multiple emails, all begging for help; why didn't I ask for help....?!
So do you think we heard back from the GP surgery and the result of their investigation? Oops there goes another flying pig.
