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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To make a complaint to the hospital?

80 replies

Questionablmouse · 30/10/2025 10:46

My dad was taken into hospital last week with a suspected heart block that was causing confusion and low heart rate. They found out he'd had a minor heart attack and put him on blood thinners. I got a call last night at 7pm saying he was confused and they were worried about hospital delirium but would monitor him.

He went to the toilet by himself at 8am this morning and fell, banging his head. He's had a CT scan which shows some bleeding and he's in quite a bad way.

Aibu in thinking that considering he was confused and on blood thinners he should have has something with him he he couldn't just wander around the ward? I feel like making a complaint because he should have been safe in hospital and now there's a chance he might not come home at all.

OP posts:
Eeeett · 30/10/2025 11:15

MistressoftheDarkSide · 30/10/2025 11:04

Really unhelpful response.

Sending a hug to the OP.

Complaining / bringing concerns to the attention of hospitals etc in these circumstances can help highlight failings and inform better care for both the OPs Dad moving forward, and future patients, at least one would hope.

Most hospitals have a PALS office on site, so a visit there doesn't have to interfere with the OPs focus on her Dad.

Elderly vulnerable people in hospital shouldn't end up worse than when they went in because of poor care.

I agree with all of this.

Yes I would and have not this exact situation but a complaint was put in, I basically did it with the hope of things would hopefully be looked into and it would help try and prevent a similar thing, I know there’s a culture for some people of never complain about the NHS but how is it suppose to get better?

MistressoftheDarkSide · 30/10/2025 11:04

RoseAlone · 30/10/2025 10:57

Of course not! Concentrate on your dad,

Really unhelpful response.

Sending a hug to the OP.

Complaining / bringing concerns to the attention of hospitals etc in these circumstances can help highlight failings and inform better care for both the OPs Dad moving forward, and future patients, at least one would hope.

Most hospitals have a PALS office on site, so a visit there doesn't have to interfere with the OPs focus on her Dad.

Elderly vulnerable people in hospital shouldn't end up worse than when they went in because of poor care.

RoseAlone · 30/10/2025 10:57

Of course not! Concentrate on your dad,

FullLondonEye · 30/10/2025 10:55

To an extent, yes. Was he in a normal bed or did he have the sides up to prevent him from getting out unaided? Falls can happen quite a lot in hospital - partly because the unfamiliar environment can be disorientating, but also because hospitals simply don't have the staff to monitor patients that closely so the alternative is to keep them restrained in bed, either with barriers or by actually restraining the patient. Not many patients or their families are prepared to allow that. It's certainly worth asking if a risk assessment process was carried out and followed.

CharlesRydersMum · 30/10/2025 10:51

Ask to see his falls risk assessment.