This is long and I'm largely putting this down because it's better than having it all circle my brain . but I've no idea what to do or expect next. Any ideas or advice would be very gratefully appreciated
My Nan is 90. Up until a week ago was living independently alone in her bungalow without any carers . All family live over 100 miles away so we visit but she didn't physically see someone daily . She has no dementia issues, walked using a zimmer and cooked all her own food
Sunday night 24th she fell going to loo, couldn't get up , pressed alarm and then spent 3hours on the floor waiting for ambulance which arrived just as my mum turned up having driven the 150 miles to get there
Admitted to a&e 5am Monday and spent next 19 hours on a trolley with hip / NOF fracture. Only got moved onto an orthopaedic bed with air mattress after one of the nurses went mental at a dr. Orthopaedics wouldn't take her as blood came back with high liver markers . Ct scan done and eventually moved to surgical triage ward at 4am
Tuesday told ct showed liver abscess and they would drain before fixing hip . Still expecting her to lift onto bed pan despite fracture . At 5pm told liver drain won't happen as only 2 of the 3 bloods have been taken . Iv antibiotics given
Wednesday - lunchtime taken for liver drain - nothing to drain , biopsy taken instead - 5 day wait for results . Finally catheter given as pain too much to get on bedpan
Evening - hip op finally done , blood transfusion
Thursday to Tuesday
Nothing heard from doctors ( ward round at 8 , visiting starts at 11) , nurses unable to give us any info from notes . Nan is not eating , on saline drip for dehydration , iv antibiotics and painkillers. She hasn't the strength to position herself in bed or scoot up when she slumps down . She's in a side room - no patient tv or radio available (assumes all have and can use iPads) . When we are not visiting she's just staring at the clock on the wall .
Tuesday - get a text from nan saying cancer nurse coming today . That's it
She was told , while on her own at ward round that biopsy not back , not responding to antibiotics and liver markers still high that it's probably cancer and that a nurse will come talk to her .
I was there all day and no nurse turned up
Basically she's had enough , doesn't want to live anymore and is stuck in hospital with no information, mobility or dignity.
I can't see how she will ever get to leave hospital as she can't get from sit to stand or chair transfer even with the help of 2 physios and various frames.
Surely a surgical triage ward is not the right place ? Do I ask about palliative care , hospice ? Elderly care home ? She says she's had a good life but this is enough. Apparently she stuck at the bus stop and no bloody bus will come and collect her to go to grandad
I know I should be grateful for the care that she's getting in hospital but it's not that great. She's developing pressure sores , we have to monitor when her painkillers are due as they can come 2 hours late and she's in pain. If she slumps down the bed and needs moving up using a slide sheet it's causes much grumping from some nurses.
I'm just at a complete loss as to how to help or advocate for her .