Basildon Hospital 2020-11-15 Person 1 5 0

My Grandad has just spent 2 weeks on Horndon ward, Basildon Hospital, with an infection. The overall care and communication with the family was disgusting. My Grandad is a deteriorating Parkinson’s patient so as soon as he was admitted we felt anxious, as we knew he would be confused and scared. Obviously due to the current restrictions with Covid 19, we knew we wouldn’t be allowed to visit him and fully respected that, however a regular update was all we asked for. Unfortunately the Ward was non compliant with this and when we called they was rude and very dismissive, always ‘too busy’ or doing the ‘drug round’. The Nurses and Doctors showed no compassion for my Grandad or my families situation. At one point we was told by the Nurse in Charge that they had been escalating him to the Dr since Friday and no one had reviewed him yet (this was on the Monday - so 4 days!!). He was isolated in a side room due to the type of infection he had and left there to deteriorate. He became dehydrated and was left catheterised even though he was mobile (so could go to the toilet) and to add to our concern I was told he had been trying to pull the catheter out (which could cause him trauma and even more distress). On one of the occasions we spoke to him over the phone he didn’t know where he was and said he was in prison and had been tied up for hours. Obviously we know with the Parkinson’s comes confusion, however on speaking to the staff their dismissive attitude did not leave my family feeling very reassured. Unfortunately when this was escalated to PALS and even they did not act accordingly. So it was like banging our head against a brick wall. The only good I can report is that the physiotherapists on the ward were excellent, spent time with grandad getting him back on his feet and we’re brilliant in calling my Aunt to give regular updates- so thank you very much to the physiotherapists on Horndon ward, you gave my family that little bit of reassurance that kept us going!!!! I have heard bad reviews about the elderly care at Basildon but didn’t think we would experience it first hand!! If my poor Grandad ever has to go to Hospital again it will NOT be at Basildon!