Hospital discharged terrified dementia patient at midnight without calling family leaving him wandering Scots streets
LEFT ALONE Hospital discharged terrified dementia patient at midnight without calling family leaving him wandering Scots streets
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A GRANDAD with dementia was left 'petrified' after being let out of hospital late at night with no clue how to get home.
Vulnerable Joseph Harrington, 76, wandered around for more than an hour before a taxi driver came to his rescue.
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Joe Wilkinson, 24, with his beloved 76-year-old grandad Joseph Harrington
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Joseph was left wandering the streets alone
Credit: Facebook/@ JoeWilkinson
When finally reunited with loved ones just after midnight, he still had medical tubes in his arms.
Last night grandson Joe Wilkinson, 24, slammed staff at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.
He said: 'We're horrified they would discharge him without phoning anyone, especially with his dementia. He could have been assaulted, fallen and hurt himself or anything.'
Joseph had been treated for stomach pains and was visited before 8pm on July 17 by partner Joan Robson.
He was discharged at 10.30pm then wandered to the city's Charleston area. He was later able to give his address to a passing cabbie — who took him home and ensured he was safely reunited with Joan.
Joe said: 'Just after midnight she heard someone banging on the door. It was grandad and he told her he had been discharged.
'When she phoned the hospital a nurse at the ward confirmed he had been discharged at 10.30pm.
'No one had called any of us.'
Relatives took the OAP to A&E the next day to be checked over and staff insisted they should report what had happened.
Joe said the family is set to make an official complaint — while they hope to trace and thank the taxi hero who came to his grandad's aid.
Moment carer throws dementia-stricken man, 88, around 'like rag doll' before death
Describing his ordeal, Joseph said: 'I had to find my own way home. It was a real struggle and I was petrified.'
If you need dementia support, help is avalaible.
Alzheimer's Society runs the Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456, which provides information and advice about dementia.
Age UK: advice line on 0800 678 1602 (free) Independent Age: helpline on 0800 319 6789 (free)
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