I know I have not posted for a while as have been busy but this past week has just been worst for a while so had to post.
Just to update you. Last Tuesday Claire was still in a great deal of pain from her sinuses. I called the Doctors at O’Connell Street and a Doctor came out to see her. He was concerned that “Two Anti Biotic’s” had not cleared the Sinus Infection. He felt that the “Best option” was for Claire to go to the Borders General Hospital (BGH) and arranged an Ambulance he felt there may be an issue with swelling on her Brain.
I helped Claire get Dressed and Come down the Stairs which was a great struggle. An ambulance came and decided to take her out in her wheelchair from the bottom of the steps at the Front Door. It was at that point we realised that the tyres were flat on the wheelchair it was still however used and Claire was bumped down the steps at the bottom of the path in the wheelchair. They got her into the ambulance and to the BGH.
She was in A & E for Four Hours and saw 2 Doctors and had “OBS” done her Blood Pressure was low and her heart beat was high. The Doctor released her as they felt it was a Sinus infection but didn’t give her any Tablets. They have referred her to the ENT department.
I drove her home we had a bit of struggle getting her into the car at the BGH as she was very sore by this time. When I got her out of the Car we decided she would use her Zimmer which was the way she felt most confident to get in (it was after 6pm by this time). With a great deal of work I got her to the Steps at the bottom of the path and she made the first step she then fell I got her on her feet and she fell again. It was at that point Claire and I realised we were not going to get her in on our own and that Claire had hurt her knee and hip. I therefore dialled 999 and an Ambulance came, Claire at this point was sitting on the Steps in the cold. The Ambulance drivers talked about getting a special chair to get Claire into the house but after discovering that she had hurt her hip and knee they decided to take her back to the BGH. Claire felt she was able to get back to the Bottom of the Path and get on a Trolley bed she was very cold by then and had a number of Blankets over her but she was still on the cold surface. She managed this with help from me and the two ambulance men. They took her back to the BGH.
She was at the BGH for Four hours again and had X Rays which showed no breaks she has a bruised hip and sprained knee. The A & E staff arranged for an Ambulance to take her home and I returned before she did. Two Ambulance Crews came and with the help of a special Electric climbing chair got her into the house and into the living room.
She has not managed the Stairs and Monday Morning was still sleeping sitting up in the Living Room. That was a whole 6 days after the hospital visit.
I had contacted Claire s OT (Occupational Therapist) by email on the Sunday night advising her of all this as she had been on Holiday the previous week. I telephoned her on the Monday Morning and we discussed the possibility of Claire getting a Hospital Bed for the living room. I was advised that none were available and that she could not tell me when one would be available. Scottish Borders Council are looking into Clawing Back Beds from the Community where they are no longer needed. I was advised that she may not even qualify for a bed. I therefore decided that I would bring a bed down from upstairs.
We now have Claire in the living Room on a Single bed. We are seeing this as a positive step as she is able to be more involved in what is going on and has more room to move about. It is unfortunate that yet again it was us that had to solve the problem and that due to lack of funding at Scottish Borders Council the Social Work Department Could not help.
I know there are many stories like this out there at the moment as the Cuts in Local Authorities are hitting people like us the hardest. I am hopeful that Claire being in the living room will be a positive step and will keep you updated.
Carers Speaking Out 