Can someone help me compose a letter to the hospital please?

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

I'm beyond angry and tired and have lost the art of putting my words across without getting bolshy and not being listened to.

My mother is in hospital and has had excellent medical care but has been moved to ward where male dementia patients are constant allowed to wander freely including the female ward.

They keep lunging at her/ her bed,thinking she's their wife / trying to get into bed with her and other female patients.

The staff seem totally blase about it and today I had to stand between my mum who was in a wheelchair and one of the men, who kept trying to get too close to her.

I made such a 'fuss' that they had proper security on the ward last night as I'd told my mum to ring 999 if anyone came in but today when I visited it happened several times again I told i insisted on the door being shut but even then there was lots of peering through the window .

She is understandably terrified. I feel sick about leaving her there and am also incandescent with rage that female spaces yet AGAIN aren't seen as important enough to protect.

There are 3 wanderers and so it's impossible for the staff to keep an eye on them.

I want to formally complain in writing,can someone help me gather my thoughts please and get a letter together?

Thanks in advance.

While waiting for the alarm to arrive is she able to press the bell (the big emergency one on the wall) if she is being physically/sexually assaulted or threatened? Make sure she knows she can do this if she’s able to. It’s more traditionally used for medical emergency of course but if staff can’t or won’t supervise then she needs to alert them quickly in an emergency

Unfortunately I did that several times during the day already, by the evening mum was terrified. I felt I had no option but to tell her to ring 999, it worked as there was proper security last night so it can be done. Today was bad again.

That's a great idea, I'll text her now, especially as the buzzers aren't working as there's a fault.

This is awful. My advice would be to contact PALs. They are very effective

Staff more at risk?

The nurses on shift are not in bed and are clothed. The NHS workforce isn’t that bad yet.

We hope.

Dementia patients are a danger to others, and to themselves. it’s the ward’s legal duty to safeguard the patients.

Care Act 2014 is what you need - that’s what the staff have to obey, regardless of their own policies. Excuses don’t apply. You can give the hosp a chance to put a plan in place. Don’t stop complaining till they do.

First port of call tomorrow!

And she shouldn’t have to but she is allowed to scream/shout for help if at risk of imminent assault. She might (like many women) not want to cause a disturbance but her safety is very important. Sorry that she is in this position it’s hard for her and for you

She's not able to unfortunately.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor that is a worry as it makes her more vulnerable. Hope PALs are helpful tomorrow

‘We can’t afford 1:1 supervision’

NHS just binned £1.4 billion of PPE.

In the world’s most wasteful organisation, they can afford one unqualified temp to prevent rape.

Listen to the excuses, smile, don’t leave till the HCA arrives.

That was the government.

I agree that increased staff should be present to avert any potential issues or fear. . So the management need to provide the funds/ staff. Obviously the ward want it they can only request but the management decide.

The Sister told me that she knew if she rang the agency they wouldn't send any staff.

I don't know if the security last night were agency staff or hospital security. Whoever they were did the trick and I'm praying it's another peaceful night. I've not had any calls from mum so 🤞

Honestly…they won’t give a flying fuck if you threaten them…they are all short staffed….if legal action was initiated it would be against the trust …..i mean they know it’s not acceptable but their hands are likely tied

They can put the side rails of the bed up so the patient can’t get out. When I was in hospital about 3 years ago, I was woken in the middle of the night by a lady who had dementia. Her face was in mine. I was in such a deep sleep and when she woke me I didn’t know where I was. I asked the nurses to put the sides up on her. bed and they said they couldn’t do this as she should be free to get out of bed. I told them they had a duty of care to me and her and really when I woke up and didn’t know who she was I might have struck out when frightened. They put the sides up.

My MIL was sexually assaulted by a male resident in her care home. DH complained but it didn't really go anywhere as both had dementia. We moved her to another home where she died peacefully, but it was inexcusable what happened. Standards are absolutely at rock bottom.

Care home manager said side rails not allowed.

But they do use them in hospital sometimes for the patients safety. My husband’s Aunt had the rails up to stop her trying to get out of bed and falling.

Oh gosh op, you poor mum☹️ what a worry for you.

I would email them & mention that you’re concerned about safeguarding and that your mum is vulnerable & you’re massively concerned about her safety given that unknown males are freely wandering in & getting too close. That you’d be extremely upset if something bad happened & ask what they can do to reassure you that she’s safe?

What an awful situation.

Rails don't stop people from getting out of bed. They just stop someone from rolling over and falling out of bed. If patients are "climbers", they have to leave the rails down because if they fall while trying to climb over the rails they will be hurt. Bed rails will not keep mobile patients will dementia in bed.

We found PALS as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Contact Social services and raise a safeguarding concern.
Either that or ask for the SG lead (adults) at the hospital.
This is appalling.

Thanks, KitKat. What a deplorable situation.

Hospital couldn't tell me the safeguarding number.

I said I'd wait until they found it.

PALS found a direct number.

🙄

Really hoping you get some support with this