'Mum's care made me lose faith in NHS' (From South Wales Argus)

'Mum's care made me lose faith in NHS'

2:30pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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A GWENT man whose bed-bound mother's final months were blighted by problems with Gwent's GP out-of-hours and district nursing services, is demanding an apology from health bosses.

Andrew Cook, of Risca, "lost all faith" in the NHS after what he claimed were repeated lengthy waits for help to unblock his incontinent mother Margaret's catheters, delays which made her more prone to infection and distress.

A Gwent Healthcare Trust report into his complaint cites problems with mobile phone blackspots for on-call nurses, and lack of communication between sectors of the NHS, due in part to confidentiality issues.

It also contains an admission that while out-of-hours provision is always busy it is sometimes so stretched it cannot meet patients' expectations.

An action plan has been implemented to address Mr Cook's concerns.

Measures include monthly meetings between GPs and district nursing team representatives, and extra training in catheter care.

Also, when a home visit organised through the out-of-hours service is prioritised as needed within six hours, a 'comfort' call will be made to patients or their carers if that limit is approaching and the visit has not been made.

Mrs Cook, also from Risca, who died in February last year aged 68 after suffering kidney failure, had been bed-bound for almost two years, after a spell in intensive care following a bout of pneumonia resulted in a rare condition that damaged nerves in her legs.

Mr Cook, who gave up work to look after her, said their experiences had been "awful."

"One time we waited six hours and 13 minutes for a visit and there were other long waits.

"No one part of the NHS had her full medical history. There were always gaps to fill in.

"I hope this action plan improves things, because people shouldn't be messed about like this. I've had plenty of reassurances but I want an apology."

A TRUST spokesman said the action plan will be fully implemented by the end of July.

"We promised to update Mr Cook nearer that time and obviously we will do so. If he has any immediate concerns in the meantime, we would be willing to meet him," he said.

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