Ms Q complained that the Trust did not give her mother, Mrs U, enough food and drink during several hospital admissions; discharged her from hospital when she was unfit; and put her on the Liverpool Care Pathway (a way of managing her care at the end of her life) without telling her family. Ms Q also complained about the way the Trust communicated with her.
Mrs U was admitted to hospital three times in four months with diarrhoea and vomiting. In hospital her food and fluid intake decreased and she lost weight. Mrs U became increasingly unwell and on her third admission she developed an infection. Mrs U died during her third admission.
What we found
We upheld some parts of Ms Q's complaint. The Trust did not properly assess Mrs U's nutritional needs and it did not consider other feeding methods. It also discharged her from hospital when she was not fit to be discharged, and discussions with Mrs U and her family about end of life care were poor.
We were unable to reach a conclusion about the way the Trust had communicated with Ms Q.
Putting it right
The Trust apologised to Ms Q and produced an action plan which demonstrated the changes it had made as a result of her complaint.
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Greater London
Apology
Recommendation to learn lessons or draw up an action plan