My father died in a care home and all I got was denials and excuses
It can't investigate individual complaints – this is mostly down to the local government and social care ombudsman (LGSCO), but also the parliamentary and health service ombudsman (PHSO). It depends on who funds the care; in theory the same care home could be dealing with two ombudsman staff unaware of each other. Both are equally damned on Trustpilot with overwhelmingly negative reviews.
My dad died two days after he had been moved to a home for palliative care. So much went wrong on that awful day, with staff who didn't care and with no involvement with any senior staff. I complained to the manager and then the company headquarters. I received many denials and excuses, one of which was so clearly untrue that I thought I'd caught them out.
I told the PHSO everything. I waited for eight months, only to have every ridiculous excuse parroted back to me as a reason for not investigating. I don't believe the LGSCO would have been any better.
The care home company knew I had complained and had time to prepare for an investigation, which never came. All I did by complaining was show what it could get away with. Other homes in the same organisation have been graded as inadequate or requiring improvement, with poor staffing levels and attitudes to patients especially marked. So criticise the CQC, but don't spare either ombudsman.Name and address supplied
Your article made me cry. My parents (90 and 92) have, since February, suffered deterioration in their health such that both now need full-time care. Three of the four local-authority-provided 'rehab' places have so far been utterly woeful.
The home that my father is currently living in is disastrous for a person in his position. My sister and I are desperately trying to sort an alternative for him, but it takes time and every day he is there is a day too long. And as for whistleblowing, we tried that when a carer was verbally abusive to my mother. The difficulties we are having moving her because of her record of 'very difficult behaviour' are not unconnected.Name and address supplied
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Telegraph
27 minutes ago
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How to treat the three key types of depression, according to a neuroscientist
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The three key types of depression A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, published in June, identified three main types of depression experienced in the general population and explored how they manifest in patients' brains and daily lives. Though the study was conducted in the US, it used data from the UK Biobank, which tracks the health of half a million British volunteers over their lifetimes. Low mood without low motivation, low motivation without low mood and a combination of both are all common. 1. Low mood (without low motivation) People who primarily struggle with low mood might experience: A persistent feeling of sadness, tearfulness, numbness or emptiness lasting at least two weeks. Becoming easily frustrated, irritated, or angry over things that never used to bother them (a symptom of anxiety, which often co-occurs with low mood). Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt or shame over things they didn't do or weren't responsible for. A consistent and extreme negative view of themselves and their abilities, or feelings of worthlessness. 2. Low motivation (without low mood) People who primarily struggle with low motivation might experience: Persistent tiredness despite sleeping well. Cognitive impairment (brain fog), which can appear as difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Trouble completing everyday tasks like work, housework or admin. A sharp decrease in sex drive. A loss of interest in other people, as well as activities and hobbies they once enjoyed. 3. Low mood and low motivation People who struggle with a mix of low mood and low motivation may experience a combination of these symptoms. The study's participants differed not only in their symptoms but also 'in their neurobiology', says Dr Janine Bijsterbosch, the lead scientist, in a press release. In other words, different symptoms correlated with different changes in the brain. 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The best treatments for different kinds of depression This is why Prof Roiser's work on brain imaging is so crucial. 'An MRI scan of neurobiology may have the potential to predict clinical outcomes that depression symptom screening alone cannot capture', says Dr Yvette Sheline, who also contributed to the Washington University study. While doctors may not yet fully understand what depression is or why it occurs, brain scans could help tailor treatments to the unique symptoms of different types of depression. A number of treatments for depression are currently available on the NHS, while others are being explored by researchers as potential therapies. There is limited evidence, however, to indicate which treatments work best for specific types of depression. 'The important thing is not to lose hope', says Prof Roiser. 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Times
36 minutes ago
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Eye tests for ageing drivers will do far more than make roads safer
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And this is rarely checked again, with older people who have to renew from the age of 70 simply declaring that they can still pass the number plate test. • Drivers over 70 who fail eye tests face ban in road safety overhaul Estimates vary as to just how many drivers can't see well enough to meet the legal requirements, but a recent roadside survey carried out by police forces across England, Scotland and Wales involving the testing of 900 motorists found that 1 in 45 of them failed the number plate test, suggesting there are close to one million people on our roads who cannot see well enough to drive safely. 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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
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