Potential NHS negligence
Discussion
Not really sure where to go with this, as not really the type of person who looks at making a claim against others, but things really could not be much more serious than this, and its needs addressing.
I father in law went into hospital around August 2025 operation to his spine. Firstly, he had an adverse reaction at the time of the surgery do to the type of anaesthetic prescribed, as was done without review of his notes and seemingley certain people cannot have certain types, which resulted in a heart attack, which set back matters right from the off.
A month or so later (around November), after being hospitalised from the surgery/complications, the surgery went ahead and we were advised it was a success, albeit to what degree would not be known for some time and there would be much physio needed as part of recovery. He remained in the hospital for a number of weeks/months which arrangements were made as to where he would be moved to for said physio.
Fast forward to February 2025, and he is still in the hospital. Had recieved no physio and they are still trying to find him somewhere to go. The hospital release him in to a care home local to his family home, and he has been there ever since.
Since moving to the care home he has recieved no physio whatsoever as by their own admission they are not able to provide this, nor have the ability to deal with the complications he has with moving generally, as he hasn't moved in now the best part of 6 months and without the physio which was needed has very little use of anything aside from his right arm/hand. His muscle mass has literally vanished due to the lack of movement, and being brutally honest he looks a frail man now, a shadow of himself of only 12 months ago.
He now has stage 4 pressure sores (bedsores) as a result of the lack of movement, and from reading on the internet, which I appreciate is likely a bad thing to do, it would indicate these could result in end of life imminently.
This is heart breaking as you can imagine, and my wife simply doesn't know how to best deal with it as we are not local to her father (and mother), and we are getting little to no communication from the hospital or the care home about what their intentions are, etc. It genuinely seems he is now in palliative care and due to the physio not taking place when it should have done, and the decline in his body thereafter as a result, they see it as their only responsibility feed him & provide a bed. This may be harsh, and there are some lovely people at the care home, but they simply do not have the power to change things.
I genuinely don't see anything good on the horizon, as think it is at a point at which there is no returning from, but how do the NHS get away with this, and what is the best course of action to try and stop others going through the same ?
I father in law went into hospital around August 2025 operation to his spine. Firstly, he had an adverse reaction at the time of the surgery do to the type of anaesthetic prescribed, as was done without review of his notes and seemingley certain people cannot have certain types, which resulted in a heart attack, which set back matters right from the off.
A month or so later (around November), after being hospitalised from the surgery/complications, the surgery went ahead and we were advised it was a success, albeit to what degree would not be known for some time and there would be much physio needed as part of recovery. He remained in the hospital for a number of weeks/months which arrangements were made as to where he would be moved to for said physio.
Fast forward to February 2025, and he is still in the hospital. Had recieved no physio and they are still trying to find him somewhere to go. The hospital release him in to a care home local to his family home, and he has been there ever since.
Since moving to the care home he has recieved no physio whatsoever as by their own admission they are not able to provide this, nor have the ability to deal with the complications he has with moving generally, as he hasn't moved in now the best part of 6 months and without the physio which was needed has very little use of anything aside from his right arm/hand. His muscle mass has literally vanished due to the lack of movement, and being brutally honest he looks a frail man now, a shadow of himself of only 12 months ago.
He now has stage 4 pressure sores (bedsores) as a result of the lack of movement, and from reading on the internet, which I appreciate is likely a bad thing to do, it would indicate these could result in end of life imminently.
This is heart breaking as you can imagine, and my wife simply doesn't know how to best deal with it as we are not local to her father (and mother), and we are getting little to no communication from the hospital or the care home about what their intentions are, etc. It genuinely seems he is now in palliative care and due to the physio not taking place when it should have done, and the decline in his body thereafter as a result, they see it as their only responsibility feed him & provide a bed. This may be harsh, and there are some lovely people at the care home, but they simply do not have the power to change things.
I genuinely don't see anything good on the horizon, as think it is at a point at which there is no returning from, but how do the NHS get away with this, and what is the best course of action to try and stop others going through the same ?
Pay for the physio if you can afford to do so and then take some advice as to whether he's entitled to contuinng healthcare funding
It's notoriously difficult to get to the bottom of this type of thing.
Edit as I should have added - my mother got stage 4 pressure sores and made a recovery of sorts so they don't necessarily signal the beginning of the end
It's notoriously difficult to get to the bottom of this type of thing.
Edit as I should have added - my mother got stage 4 pressure sores and made a recovery of sorts so they don't necessarily signal the beginning of the end
Edited by Nicetobenice on Thursday 21st May 12:32
There will be a GP or equivalent who supervises the medical needs of the residents of the care home. When was their last visit to your father in law and with what outcome? For example did they prescribe the issue of a "palliative care kit" to the home and if so who is qualified to administer it? And as a result of showing what symptoms? Do you have a RESPECT form in place. If not, get one. Who is next of kin? Your wife or AN Other?
If palliative care medication is not being administered, what do you mean by palliative care?
It may be heartbreaking for you but you have some practical interventions to make to minimise pain and distress at this difficult time
Also, do you have a copy of his hospital discharge letter releasing him to the care home? What factors did the discharge team consider, in particular regarding the need for nursing rather than social care in the care home? if you do not, you may not yet have any firm grounds for thinking anyone was negligent
Ask me how I have an inkling how stuff works: my father is being cremated today after a year self funding in a (great) care/nursing home preceded by a year in a (less great) "couldn't care home". I am not a clinician or lawyer
If palliative care medication is not being administered, what do you mean by palliative care?
It may be heartbreaking for you but you have some practical interventions to make to minimise pain and distress at this difficult time
Also, do you have a copy of his hospital discharge letter releasing him to the care home? What factors did the discharge team consider, in particular regarding the need for nursing rather than social care in the care home? if you do not, you may not yet have any firm grounds for thinking anyone was negligent
Ask me how I have an inkling how stuff works: my father is being cremated today after a year self funding in a (great) care/nursing home preceded by a year in a (less great) "couldn't care home". I am not a clinician or lawyer
Edited by DB4DM on Thursday 21st May 13:46
Edited by DB4DM on Thursday 21st May 13:54
DB4DM said:
There will be a GP or equivalent who supervises the medical needs of the residents of the care home. When was their last visit to your father in law and with what outcome? For example did they prescribe the issue of a "palliative care kit" to the home and if so who is qualified to administer it? And as a result of showing what symptoms? Do you have a RESPECT form in place. If not, get one. Who is next of kin? Your wife or AN Other?
If palliative care medication is not being administered, what do you mean by palliative care?
It may be heartbreaking for you but you have some practical interventions to make to minimise pain and distress at this difficult time
Also, do you have a copy of his hospital discharge letter releasing him to the care home? What factors did the discharge team consider, in particular regarding the need for nursing rather than social care in the care home? if you do not, you may not yet have any firm grounds for thinking anyone was negligent
Ask me how I have an inkling how stuff works: my father is being cremated today after a year self funding in a (great) care/nursing home preceded by a year in a (less great) "couldn't care home". I am not a clinician or lawyer
Sorry to hear about father, and hope the day goes as well as possible.If palliative care medication is not being administered, what do you mean by palliative care?
It may be heartbreaking for you but you have some practical interventions to make to minimise pain and distress at this difficult time
Also, do you have a copy of his hospital discharge letter releasing him to the care home? What factors did the discharge team consider, in particular regarding the need for nursing rather than social care in the care home? if you do not, you may not yet have any firm grounds for thinking anyone was negligent
Ask me how I have an inkling how stuff works: my father is being cremated today after a year self funding in a (great) care/nursing home preceded by a year in a (less great) "couldn't care home". I am not a clinician or lawyer
In relation to your queries, the next of kin would be his wife, albeit he was her dedicated carer as she herself is not well, so that is far from ideal as well, but she's quite a stubborn person and certainly would be willing to pass responsibility over to any of her children.
I do not believe there to be a RESPECT form in place, but will ask the question.
By palliative care, I simply meant there does not appear to be any intention to treat or try to improve his condition, but merely make him comfortable as possible. I'm not really sure what else they could actually do, as don't have the facilities to do what was told would be done, ie physio, and he has deteriorated so much so christmas that I'm not sure if would work now if I'm honest, but I'm not a physio so may be wrong.
We don't have the discharge letter releasing him to the care home, but again, will ask who has this and get a copy to see what it says.
In respect of the query about negligence, I just struggle to see how the hospital/NHS detail what treatment is needed moving forward after an operation, ie physio, etc, and then be allowed to move him to somewhere not capable of doing such, or even arrangement a third party to visit to undertake the treatment. That to me seems negligent in their basic duties, but like yourself, I do not work in the profession or am a lawyer, so may be wrong, hence the post to be honest.
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