Injury on nhs ward

[tiredofworking]

My mother had dementia and has been in hospital for 3 weeks with what they’re calling delirium - whole other story. I visited her and her middle finger was swollen, purple with a black line across nail. Obviously trapped in door or drawer. I asked staff what happened- they didn’t know anything about it. Asked if it could be reviewed by dr- yes they said and took photos. It actually wasn’t reviewed until following day and x Ray showed it is broken. No one can explain injury but happened on night shift. Wasn’t acted on or reported until I informed staff about it. I’m really upset but what can I actually do?? She says night staff pushed her into bay and shut door on her but she’s not a reliable witness obviously. Any advice gratefully received

Speaking as a social worker they should have reported this as a safeguarding concern given the allegations she is making. They might not be true however should not be discounted and not believed. I hope your mum makes a full recovery.

Talk to PALS. It should be documented as a ward injury but PALS will be ablento give you any updates. Its doesn't sound like an injury that could happen without someone knowing, she would have cried out surely even if staff didn't see how she did it? And worst case a member of staff was involved.

I don’t see how she wouldn’t have made a noise- it was very swollen

Having seen some of the staffing ratios lately it wouldn't surprise me. I'm not convinced night staff pay that much attention to their patients either. Mostly for the same reason (controversial I know)

IME wards, especially those with a number of elderly patients, especially ones with delirium, dementia and so on, can have a lot of people crying out all the time.

You're dealing with a patient on Bay A who's had An Issue and now there are bodily fluids everywhere, the patient is LOUD, and several people on Bay B are yelling for the nurse, the loo, their Mum, their dinner... at times like that one more scream can go unnoticed.

I can see how it happens but it's still very bad. Your poor Mum.

Threads like this explain why I would prefer to cut my throat with a rusty saw than go into hospital. No wonder people get delerium.

I’m not sure how much staffing levels have changed but I worked pt nights ( RGN) for years up until a few years ago and on a 28 bedded ward there were usually 2 trained staff and an HCA . When you then take into consideration that for 3 hours there would only be 2 staff present due to breaks , you can absolutely see how people could be injured and nobody necessarily notice . The wards had 4 bays of 6 and 4 side rooms so often if 2 people were in a side room dealing with a patient there could potentially be nobody on the ward . It’s poor but those were the conditions I did nights with for over 20 yrs and you just do your best . I hope your mums finger gets better soon @tiredofworking .

If nobody kicks up a stink, things will never improve. Ask to speak to the sister in charge, request an explanation and why nobody noticed and ask what is being put in place to prevent it happening again. Follow up in writing and if no joy I'd write to the CEO.

This is your mum and you are her advocate and the squeaky wheel gets attention.