Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hello, an elderly neighbour of mine was discharged from hospital she has numerous health conditions including cancer,stroke and renal problems. She was discharged from hospital 2 days ago and they actually dropped her home at 11:45 pm. Is it me, or do other people think this was acceptable? Due to no careers being available she was left in her wheelchair all night. I don?t want to skate the NHS because I know they are under a lot of pressure but I do believe this is wrong.
I think this is entirely wrong. I'm astonished that there wasn't a check to ensure that someone was at home to provide care for her on discharge. She sounds very vulnerable, if it were me I would at least bring the matter to a relevant person's attention and ask for an explanation as to why it was deemed appropriate.

Blimey - no that's not acceptable ! And if she gets pressure sores from sitting ( and potentially ) weeing in w/c all night ,it's going to end up costing the NHS more .Oh ,and possibly inconviencing the poor person .


I think contact PALS at the hospital and explain what has happened .

I can't believe that the hospital just discharged her without checking - something has surely gone wrong .


Delayed hospital transport ?? Agency failure ? Promise of carer on discharge not delivered ?


But definitely bring to attention of PALS ,hopefully they can find out what went wrong .

Yes the NHS is under a lot of pressure and Kings do a wonderful job under very difficult circumstances but this is totally unacceptable. An elderly vulnerable neighbour of mine was given an assessment and appropriate arrangements made prior to discharge involving carers and the district nurse. It?s crazy and dangerous for her to have been brought home at that time of day when no support was available.
Generally the elderly 'block beds' because there is nowhere safe for them to be discharged to - in this instance this lady should also have been a bed-blocker, clearly. This should be reported - I would guess hold-ups in discharge (transport issues?) and failure to join-up care has meant that what was planned (probably that morning) as a safe discharge turned out not to be, but it should certainly be reported if only to make sure the proper processes are in place and followed to avoid a recurrence. At this time of year there are often bed shortages and the critically ill must be cared for, but some balance has to be made.
I had a similar situation with a friend about a month ago. He had been discovered laying in his flat, he had maybe been there about three days. After a few days in Kings, they discharged him. He could not walk, he lives in a upstairs flat. We were stonewalled when we talked about a care plan. It was surreal, their only concern was filling in a form saying a district nurse would call and so he had been been passed in community care. After two days on our sofa we had to get him back to A&E and they only kept him in because we sat with him there for eight hours.

Definitely complain.


That surely can't be hospital policy, so something has gone wrong, and somebody along the line should have realised that something was going wrong.


A complaint to PALS will be investigated, and at the very least may prevent this happening to anybody else.

Her carers were arranged for 5.30 but wasn?t transported home until 11.30 , so obviously Ambulances were busy , I phoned her social worker at hospital no reply , then they phoned me to say district nurse couldn?t make it today would I give her injection:( don?t want this happening to anyone else . They might not have someone to call to help .sad affairs 😢

intexasatthe moment Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> then they phoned me to say district nurse couldn?t

> make it today would I give her injection - WHAT

> !

>

> Now that I do find outrageous .



So do I, but cynically I suspect it all stems from the present NHS underfunding/understaffing whilst the effing Tories prepare to privatise the NHS.


Not that that excuses any individual/systemic failings in the sorry saga above.

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> intexasatthe moment Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > then they phoned me to say district nurse

> couldn?t

> > make it today would I give her injection -

> WHAT

> > !

> >

> > Now that I do find outrageous .

>

>

> So do I, but cynically I suspect it all stems from

> the present NHS underfunding/understaffing whilst

> the effing Tories prepare to privatise the NHS.

>

> Not that that excuses any individual/systemic

> failings in the sorry saga above.


The f-ing tories eh?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/05/how-virgin-became-one-of-the-uks-leading-healthcare-providers

And as a person who has worked in the NHS fyi EVERY single piece of equipment etc is bought from private companies....the only state VERY subsidised area is teaching the staff- who promptly bugger off

uncleglen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------


> The f-ing tories eh?

> https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/05/ho

> w-virgin-became-one-of-the-uks-leading-healthcare-

> providers

> And as a person who has worked in the NHS fyi

> EVERY single piece of equipment etc is bought from

> private companies....the only state VERY

> subsidised area is teaching the staff- who

> promptly bugger off


Yes, the f%^ing Tories indeed. If you read that article properly (get a grownup to help if necessary) you'll see that Labour asked Virgin to look at the NHS and report on what could be done to improve it. Labour did not award Virgin Care any NHS contracts for the simple reason that Virgin Care did not exist before 2012 (previously Assura Medical from 2010), the year it gained its first NHS contracts. All of the ?2bn of NHS contracts awarded to Virgin Care in its entire history were won under the coalition or Tory governments. Wrong again.

I find it incredulous that anyone could even begin to think that Tory policy has not led to the crisis in the NHS and specifically adult social care.


Uncleglen, go and talk to any local authority and ask them how central government funding cuts, almost 60% worth have impacted on adult social care since 2010. Because it is actually worse than whatever fantasy you have going on in your head. Osborne deliberately sought to shrink the state to levels not seen since 1930 - a totally unsustainable level of cuts vs genuine need. And that is before we get onto other health impacts, like mental health.

Quite Nxjen. Uncleglen might want to look at what any treatment or operation costs for the NHS and see how much more it costs in the private sector. He then might also want to ask why cuts have led to more NHS patients being outsourced to private companies at that increased cost to the NHS. And then come back and have a conversation about the Tory cuts that have exacerbated that situation.

Complain to PALS (also to Southwark News).

Kings (and other hospitals) were informed some time ago that elderly/vulnerable patients should not be discharged in the evening as even though a care package may have been arranged and the hospital informed of the details of the agency and time of first call, they should have realised that the patient would not have made it home in time.


When I was working, we used to inform the ward that unless patient was discharged and would be at home for x time, they should not discharge someone who did not have a reliable relative or friend waiting for them at home.

Care Agencies rarely work past 9 am. Also ambulance crews should check that patient could transfer independently in a chair or bed before leaving the house. If person was non weight bearing, the crew should assist into bed.

Pugwash thanks - good to know that there are/should be procedures to avoid this sort of situation .


I suppose it's possible that the person herself when it became obvious that she would be v late home fed up with waiting and longing to be out of the hospital and at home ,resisted attempts to get her to stay . And I suppose it's also possible that she dismissed the ambulance crew and didn't want them putting her to bed .


I find it hard to think that the ambulance staff just abandonded her in her wheelchair at midnight . Well ,I hope there's more to the whole sorry event .

Complain to PALS (also to Southwark News).

Kings (and other hospitals) were informed some time ago that elderly/vulnerable patients should not be discharged in the evening as even though a care package may have been arranged and the hospital informed of the details of the agency and time of first call, they should have realised that the patient would not have made it home in time.


When I was working, we used to inform the ward that unless patient was discharged and would be at home for x time, they should not discharge someone who did not have a reliable relative or friend waiting for them at home.

Care Agencies rarely work past 9 am. Also ambulance crews should check that patient could transfer independently in a chair or bed before leaving the house. If person was non weight bearing, the crew should assist into bed.




SORRY SHOULD HAVE SAID 9 PM not 9 AM. Some folk are desperate to get out of hospital and do not really appreciate that they are in a weak state and cannot climb stairs/get into bed etc and are too proud to seek help.



I recall many years ago that an elderly person arrived very late evening at a local care home - the Ambulance Service had been given the wrong address for person - the home took her/him in for the night and the next day sent them back to the hospital. Worse is when family/friends say that they will be at the property to let in discharged patient and approximate time is given for discharge and when ambulance crew get to the property - cannot get in so end up returning patient to hospital ward to find that their bed has already been allocated to someone else!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • I would hope that those managing pension funds that have invested in TW have already seen the writing on the wall and are investing elsewhere.
    • a white fold-up bicycle if you think it might be yours message me with name of bike
    • Thats the problem, I dont have a solution, but I can see disadvantages of some of the proposed solutions.  Not selling it to a foreign company is my preference but after that I have no idea of the best path / solution with the least impact for all. Whats your view Sue ? 
    • Login Search: Lost: Coco, Mastiff, Male, in South East (SE21) 199549 Alerts Sent: 150 Click to See How You Can Help Views: 32 Poster Image Extra Image Name:Coco Dog ID:199549 Gender:Male Breed:Mastiff Age:Young / Puppy Colour:Brown Marks/Scars:white chest, also small white mark on the top his back Special Conditions:None Microchip:Yes Date Lost:13 Aug 2025 Where Lost:94 clive road Postcode: SE21Show on map Town/County:London, Greater London Region:South East Other Info: Not specified Created:13 Aug 2025 Listed by:luis View PosterDownload Poster ShareTweetPinEmailShare Poster Image Extra Image Sightings and Information Please post if you have more about this dog. Log in above or register to leave comments or to like them. Please note that DogLost cannot be held responsible for the content of any other sites mentioned or linked to here. 13-08-2025 11:48Jayne - Founder Doglost. DOG LOST Local members alerted. 13-08-2025 11:27DogLost System   Sorry to see that "Coco" is missing. • If your dog is microchipped please let the microchip company know that your dog is missing and check that all details are up to date. • Owners targeted by a malicious hoaxer demanding money for the return of their dog should phone the police on 101 immediately and contact admin@doglost.co.uk • A photograph of your dog is essential for the website. If you have not already uploaded one, please do so by Logging in and My Dogs. Alternatively you can email it to admin@doglost.co.uk quoting the dog's DogLost ID number: 199549 • Obtain a missing poster by clicking on View poster above. Posters are very important so start postering now! • You will need to be logged in to upload photos, edit your dog's details, or add comments. You can add comments by clicking on Click here to add a comment. • Contact dog wardens, vets and local rescue centres, and in Scotland, the Police. Give a detailed description with any distinguishing marks/scars or send them a copy of your DogLost poster. You can find vets in your area here. • If your dog has been stolen inform the police immediately and obtain a crime reference number (CRN). Send an email to stolen@doglost.co.uk. • If your dog is picked up and taken to rescue kennels, it can be legally re-homed after seven days. Visit rescue centres in person and do not rely on checking by phone alone. Other people may not recognise your dog by your description, so give them a DogLost poster. • Keep us updated by keeping your dog's page up to date and check for posts from helpers who may have suggestions and possible matches or sightings • DogLost is free and anyone asking for money to find or return your dog is not volunteering for us. If you are concerned about an approach you have received, please email admin@doglost.co.uk   Dogs Lost|Dogs Found|Dogs Reunited Homepage|Contact|Terms|Privacy|FAQ Reuniting Dogs with their Owners © 2025 DogLost Website Application Development by AmplifySales
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...