Heartfelt thanks to the Daily Mail for their backing and support of a campaign by leading charity the Patients Association to demand an overhaul of the NHS to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and their complaints are heard.
 
The suffering of our elderly relying on the ‘care’ of the NHS is something which has affected my family during the past 12 months as my maternal grandmother was hospitalised for several months before being forced to move into residential care.
 
I say ‘forced’ because the treatment she experienced during her stay in hospital impacted so heavily that, within a few days, she  became undernourished, severely dehydrated and extremely confused.  Physically and mentally it was impossible for her to return to her own home.
 
This after living independently in her own very comfortable home with the love and support of family and good friends…at the inspiring age of 92.
 
The view of the nursing staff was very clearly that the needs of the elderly are something of a nuisance and that it is acceptable to speak to them as though they are either children, deaf or stupid.  Oh, but their ‘human rights’ need to be observed.  If an elderly patient is asked if they would like a bath and they say ‘no’, even if they are sitting in faeces and vomit, then they cannot be ‘forced’.  That is their human right – even if they are so confused they don’t even know where they are.
 
Someone of my Nan’s generation tends to subscribe to the ‘don’t make a fuss’ philosophy.  She didn’t want to be a nuisance and was pathetically grateful to the nursing staff for the smallest gesture.
 
My Mother and I fluctuated between enormous distress, guilt…and anger.  I think we exhibited great restraint with the nursing staff as we realised that to act otherwise was counter-productive.  We just wanted her out of there as swiftly as possible so they could do my Nan no further harm.
 
I’ve had many conversations with people during and since that period who have experienced the same, or much worse, for an elderly relative.  The common thread seems to be neglect and a complete lack of dignity and respect.  It took it happening to my own Grandmother to make me realise just how helpless and powerless one feels.
 
My Nan was a ‘little old lady’ – but she was made of stern stuff.  She lived a full life through difficult times and, like countless others of her generation, deserved better care at a vulnerable time of life.  We’re all going to get older and many of us may end up at the ‘mercy’ of the NHS. 
 
If we don’t use our voice and lend our support to this campaign, let’s hope we’re all made of stern stuff too.
 
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing our plans to actively support the Patients Association.
 
Read about the Daily Mail’s campaign here
Visit www.patients-association.com to learn more, get help and advice and make a donation to raise £100,000 for two extra helpline advisors