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Patient falls after wife's request goes unheeded
MY 74-YEAR-OLD father was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital after suffering an acute stroke last October. While he needed help to walk to the toilet, he could sit and eat by himself. However, he was placed in a 'high fall-risk' cubicle.
Subsequently, the ward doctor informed me that my father was in a stable condition and the hospital was planning to transfer him to Ren Ci Hospital for rehabilitation.
My mother visited him in the evening, and before leaving, she saw that one cot side was down. She reminded the nurse about it as she was afraid my father might attempt to leave the bed unassisted.
That night, my father fell from the cot. Apparently, the nurse on duty found him lying on the floor. The fall injured his spine. He suffered further weakness to his limbs and could no longer sit up or stand. He also could not eat or relieve himself unaided. He had to be fed blended food and had a catheter inserted.
For days after the incident, he was stressed and often delirious. A few days later, he had another stroke.
My father was in a high fall-risk ward. That meant the nurses on duty had to keep a close watch on all the patients there. Why was it that my father could attempt to leave the bed without anyone noticing it?
My mother reminded the nurse to raise the cot side before she left. But that was not done. If the staff had done as instructed, the accident would not have happened.
My father stayed in the hospital for 70 days. Today, he is totally disabled and bedridden as a result of the fall and consequent stroke. The fall should not have happened.
I am disheartened by the entire incident. An old man falling while in the care of a hospital shows lack of care.
Ivy Teo (Ms)
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_764139.html
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Ps: This post was responded to at: http://thenewsynewsblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/patient-reminded-to-use-call-bell-if-he.html
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