To think the care home might have asked after my mum

[TheoriginalLEM]

So mum had been in a care home for a week, unfortunately she had a fall and broke her hip. She has had surgery and subsequently a blood transfusion (this is freaking me out, why?) She is quite poorly and im worried.

Apart from the call letting me know and my call back to the home to inform them that yes, she had broken her hip and needed surgery i have heard nothing from them.

This happened on Sunday and i was fully expecting a call from the home manager on Monday just to see how she is. That she has had surgery now etc.

Not a dickie bird. The nurse i spoke to at the weekend was so lovely, and i suspect only works weekends.

I genuinely don't know if i should be expecting a call? Im not suggesting for a minute that they are at fault, accidents happen but you'd think the manager or senior person might at least have called.

Might they be afraid of appearing at fault? Disinterested or too busy?

Im laying in bed worrying about my mum and its starting to niggle that the home, which i dont know well, are not bothrred

I think you should phone them.

They are possibly contacting the hospital directly. I know in our care home we never ring the relatives for updates unless we cannot get through to the hospital.

Do you know which hospital she is at and find out?

@feckthemall is there a reason for that? I wouks assume that the hospital would not give out info.

Would

Im just worried because the home didnt have great reviews and the cqc report said needs improvement so it has not reassured me and of course i wasnt able to visit or see the place before she went due to bastard covid.

Happy to be told IBU.

I dont know when mum likely to be out of hospital as recovery not going that well so i dont have much to update them on.

Its just niggling

My mum's care home sorted out everything to do with her medical needs. The hospital kept in touch with them and vv, because the care home needed to know what to expect when she returned (and know when she would return).

I'm glad they did communicate independently, or doubtless I'd have had to be fielding phone calls from both of them and passing messages on every five minutes.

Will the hospital talk to the care home? What about GDPR? I have no problem with them being given info so maybe that is whats happened?

Yes the hospital will routinely talk to the care home (unless you or your mum asked them not).
They are regarded as being within her care team so it's not a confidentiality breach. Like her GP I guess.

Nonetheless I would have expected the manager to call and apologise to you. Whilst it might not be anyone's fault exactly it is a serious incident requiring reporting and investigation as she was seriously injured in their care.

@TheoriginalLEM

Will the hospital talk to the care home? What about GDPR? I have no problem with them being given info so maybe that is whats happened?

Ues the hospital will keep in touch with the Care Home. They have to make sure the care home can adequately meet her new needs

@DougRossIsTheBoss

Yes the hospital will routinely talk to the care home (unless you or your mum asked them not). They are regarded as being within her care team so it's not a confidentiality breach. Like her GP I guess.

Nonetheless I would have expected the manager to call and apologise to you. Whilst it might not be anyone's fault exactly it is a serious incident requiring reporting and investigation as she was seriously injured in their care.

No way would they apologize for something that is not their fault. That could leave them open to liability

@TheoriginalLEM

Will the hospital talk to the care home? What about GDPR? I have no problem with them being given info so maybe that is whats happened?

You or your parent will have given them permission at some point. Without that permission the care home's hands are tied when it comes to your parent's medical needs. What if they can't contact you? They have to make decisions if your mum is ill in the middle of the night, and that might include talking to the hospital.

I can't imagine any care home taking someone in without having persmission to comunicate with their GP and the hospital. My mum is in and out every couple of months, and sometimes she's being dishcharged by the time I hear she was admitted (which is fine because she's usually only in for 24-48 hours for small procedures)

You do lose a lot of blood if you break your hip and in the repair (there's a surprising amount of blood in big bones) so requiring a transfusion post surgery is fairly normal. Orthopaedic surgeons don't wear those croc type theatre shoes other surgeons have they have fetching white wellies because there's that much blood.

I don't know if care homes are different but if you broke your hip on an NHS ward your family would instantly be contacted and an apology given and it is accepted that this is NOT an admission of liability. It's more a 'sorry this happened. The cause will be investigated. Please ask any we you have.' There's an absolute duty to do it and it's even in writing now a 'duty of candour letter'. I would have thought care homes had a similar duty.

Yes, i don't expect an apology - from what i was told she was getting out of bed to go to the toilet and using her frame and just went over. An accident so no one at fault.

An apology implies they are at fault so i would not expect it.

You have reassured me though that the hospital will talk to the home so its not like theyve just forgotten about her.

I do feel very out of the loop though as when i called the hospital today they told me about the blood transfusion, i was a bit taken aback but the nurse said, ah don't worry her Hb was a bit low

Thanks for reassuring me

Yes re GDPR, the rules are different when it's one body with a duty of care to the patient talking to another body with a duty of care. Perfectly common, think of the people who have no relatives, the only way the care home would get updates is via the hospital directly.

Hope she's ok and try not to worry too much

@DougRossIsTheBoss that surprises me about the blood loss. I've seen bone pinning done in cats and dogs, although not seen a femur, and there's not been that much blood, even with the oscilatting saw! It spatters a bit though not saying you are wrong obviously just that i hadnt anticipated it.