Parent being discharged from hospital

[Medlady]

88 year old father is to be discharged from hospital. However, nothing has been done to identify a source of internal bleeding which results in blood in his urine, and also 'coffee ground' vomiting. These come back every time the consultant has tried blood thinners to dissolve known pulmonary embolisms.

They have given him an outpatient urinary appointment for a couple of weeks time: His prostate is 'benignly' enlarged and it is probable that this is the source of the trouble. But would it explain bleeding in the GI tract?

I feel that some sort of investigation should be performed before he is discharged, and at least a scan to see if the PEs have dissolved, but i get nowhere when i mention this.

Has anyone challenged a discharge and won?

I challenged a discharge twice. First time my DF had had a series of small strokes. I had a call from the ward to collect him. He was dressed and sitting in a chair with his bags. I was very surprised as the day before he couldn't walk. I asked the ward sister to check his walking. He stood up and fell flat on his face as he couldn't walk. I refused to take him home to his town house with two flights of stairs to his bedroom. Someone was already in his bed, so they got another one and shoved it in a small space. Eight weeks later he was sent to rehabilitation.

Second time he was back in a different hospital after a fall. He didn't know me and had a drip into his groin. I was cheerily told that I could take him home. I refused point blank. He died the next day and the ward staff acted surprised.

So yes, OP, if you aren't satisfied that he can cope and survive, refuse and ask for a meeting to be booked with the consultant.

Have you actually spoken to the consultant or is it your DF relaying what he thinks the consultant has said? Has he seen the discharge team?

So iI think what you're saying is you feel that the fact the hospital hasn't got to the bottom of your Father's unexplained symptoms and the this process won't be picked up adequately by the outpatient service is putting your Father at risk? If so I believe you can say that you feel that this is an unsafe discharge. There will be some sort of discharge coordinator responsible for managing the discharge- the ward staff should be able to tell you who it is. Speak to them and tell them you feel this is an unsafe discharge and why.

PS Given your Fathers age the discharge process should also ensure that he can live safely at home post discharge and should arrange a short term package of nhs funded care if necessary- this is usually only provided for up to 6 weeks I think before it is means tested x

Thank you all so much

apparently they are doing an assessment to make sure he has the walking aids, handles, etc that he needs, and also I hope physiotherapy. But that is very much a separate matter

I would love to speak to the consultant! In the early days, we were contacted a few times. When I asked what further investigations were being done, the consultant seemed astonished and said that wasn’t anything to do with this ward, and would be covered as an outpatient There seems to be a different doctor every time I try to speak to one and the strikes don’t help

I will definitely try to book a meeting.