Sir, – Two weeks ago my 94-year-old mother fell and broke her hip. She was admitted to one of the country’s regional orthopaedic hospitals for surgery. Having come through a major operation, considering her advanced age, she was moved into a five-bed communal ward which she shared with four men of varying ages. I cannot describe in words my absolute disgust at this.
While I appreciate the health service is stretched to its limits both financially and in its shortage of beds (mainly due to seriously bad management over the years), I cannot accept that yet again one of the most vulnerable in our society, in this case the elderly, are treated in such a manner. Surely they are entitled to and should be afforded a modicum of respect, privacy and dignity in their later years?
My mother suffers from dementia, along with other age- related complaints, and the placing of her in a mixed ward, shows a total lack of concern, compassion or respect for her.
This, I believe is something that happens in every hospital in the country and while I appreciate that lack of beds is the issue, I cannot understand why people – especially the elderly – have to be put into a mixed ward. It is both distressing and embarrassing for the patient.
I never thought that the day would come when I would be consoled by my mother’s dementia and lack of awareness of her surroundings; and I wonder if the management and those who make the decisions on the running of the various hospitals would like to see an elderly parent or relative of theirs in this extremely distressing situation. I very much doubt it. – Yours, etc,