Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Ok then go to Thompsons,but you can aske Unite to look at where your Father-in-law worked they will hold records,if he was paying weeky into the union,he would have told the income tax office because he would have got a lower code number, because he was paying into a union.Phone them up giving his details and aske them if they can help.There is always away to get what you need to know it is just finding it.Try to find out which local branch he was in they to will hold the record of him.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
UNITE are investigating their end, contacting Bretts Engineering etc.
He paid cash to a rep, who I know and I am going to contact him, so we should be ok.
Thanks
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Paul there isnt a chance that your FIL has an old payslip or even P60 that might indicate union dues or as the previous poster said a bank statement ? I know its a long time ago but just sometimes these things turn up .
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
An update on my Father in Law, Wally.
Thanks for all your advice on Asbestos claims, we decided on Thompsons and they are very efficient kind and helpful, the only difficulty we will have is proving negligence, he worked for several years at several power stations removing blue asbestos from pipes but that's not enough proof in itself.
I now have to ask for advice on the best way to complain about bad Hospital treatment.
Wally had his first chemo and suffered badly from it, catching pneumonia and a week ago whilst he was in QEQM I was told to gather the family to say goodbye. However he responded well to the drugs and beat the infection. For the last 5 days they have been desperate to discharge him because, in their words, they have cured his pneumonia therefore he should go home. One nurse complained that she had tried to get him to eat something as they wanted to get him of the drip as quick as possible and accused him of being stroppy and difficult. When I asked her, could it be his cancerous tumour that is growing on his lungs and blocking his food pipe, be the reason for him not eating? She replied "what cancer"?
I have a list of things that I wish to complain about but what has happened today, I am sure you will not believe.
The OT last week, advised us that his bed would arrive this morning, so I informed the ward when it arrived, I was told that he was ready to be sent home and they would discharge him straight away, we were told last week that he would come home with a care package, so I was not expecting him home until that was in place, the nurse said there was no care plan needed and he was being sent home and I was asked to go and get him. Because I was worried about his discharge and his frailty, I asked for an ambulance to bring him home, "yer i suppose so" was the answer.
That was 10 am, at 2pm i rang to find out if he was on his way home, I was told "no, we sent him down the discharge lounge around 12 but i know he's still there cos i got is prescription ere in front of me, so it'll be a while yet"
At 4 pm I received a distressing call from the nurse in the discharge lounge who had been looking after Wally and been taking his obs. She had noted his blood oxygen levels were low and the paramedic who had turned up to pick him up said he was not well and should not be going home. She called the ward to inform them and she was told not to bring him back, send him home and tell his family to phone a doctor. She was furious and upset and when she was told his ambulance was not arriving till 7.30 tonight because she had to send the other one away because they still had not received his prescription, she got my phone number of his records and almost begged me to go and pick him up and get him home so that we could get a doctor to see him. She also begged me to make a complaint and could not care if she got into trouble for telling me to.
We rushed over and got him, he was in a terrible state with cuts all over his arms and he had no underpants on, although he had 4 clean pairs in his bag and he had wet himself, I asked the nurse, how he got his cuts and she did not know, they were there when they brought him down, she said I have since found out from him, that he fell over but can't remember how or where. He was in a great deal of pain because he cannot sit for long as he has disc problems but he refused the nurse's offer of a bed because he was frightened he would have to stay and not go home.
I did tell the Doctor that came round to him what had happened but I'm not sure that he believed me but he did confirm that Wally's oxygen levels were low and he should not have been discharged. He even wanted him to go back into hospital but Wally got upset, so the plan is now to get the Macmillan nurses in tomorrow.
I don't want to get people into trouble but I am not going to let this go.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Gary that is disgraceful , don't worry about people getting into trouble , if that is the state he is in them someone SHOULD get into trouble . First step ring the PALS office asap tomorrow register your complaint asap ask for the name of the Hospital complaints manager and write clearly stating your issues , keep a copy of any and everything , from now on take a note of everyones name who you meet or talk to , also , and thisis very important get your FIL to sign a letter clearly stating that he gives you permission to access his hospital notes then get PAls to tell you how you can obtain a copy , there may be a small charge for this , ensure you request and obtain a full copy of his notes that cover this and any other admissions .
Prepare and have a list of questions you want anawering , another letter which states that he gives you permission to act in his behalf is also vital , as he will be too tired /ill to do this himself .
If I can be of any help in this matter please get in contact , give him my very best regards .
PS
Write to your MP and also the MP in whos constituency the QEQM is . Follow the complaints procedure to the letter and keep a record and point out every time the QEQM fail to follow thier own policy and procedures ( because they will )
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
That is disgraceful and upsetting to read so I can only imagine how you feel. Good luck with the well deserved complaint.
It seems like Wally will be better off with a wonderful Macmillan nurse, I have heard such good reports about them.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Jan.
More angry than upset.
He will be better off tomorrow with the Macmillan nurse's, they were wonderful with my Mum & Dad.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Oh God, Gary, it feels like deja vu. I am so sorry you are experiencing this outrageous and shocking service that calls itself Care. Sarah gives you good advice - my own would follow that advice and say be prepared for the authorities to be difficult and obstructive. Following their rules matters but will not be as powerful as making waves. Make waves a hundred feet tall and then make some more. Get people into trouble - it is the least they deserve for this. If you want some support call me. Our MP Charlie Elphick is a star when it comes to health services and I am guessing he will be as outraged as anyone else to hear this. But pace yourself - you will be exhausted by it all just when your family needs you. Be kind to yourself. And treasure those moments with your Dad.
My thoughts are with you and your family Gary. x
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
What a terrible thing to happen to such a good man as Wally I remember him when he was a fit strong man with a young family and was proud to play in the same cricket team as him, was it the Cheerful Sparrows ward ? run like Colditz except they want you to escape! Best wishes to you all Gary, be strong.
Audere est facere.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Sarah P.
Thanks for your advice, I have already started writing everything down and I will contact PALS tomorrow, I don't know names of nurse's or know who I spoke to on the phone but I will follow this through, Wally and others do not deserve to be treated like this.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Gary , Berns advice is very true make a fuss and dont go away , keep on keeping on , the system is loaded against the complianee and relies on making it as complex as possible so that people give up . I have a lot of experience in making the system work against its self , please let me know if I can help .
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Thank you Bern.
I hope this does not bring back all your bad memories.
Hopefully, I am away next weekend; I will recharge my batteries and come back fighting.
Hi Martin.
A couple of months ago I was shouting at him to come down off a 30 ft ladder, when he was sawing the top of a pine tree.
The ward is Minster ward, it is a shame because there are some nice nurse's on that ward, shame Wally did not get one of them.
Thank you all for your support, its good therapy being able to offload some stress on the forum and have you guys to talk to.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
Hi Gary - so sorry to hear about the troubles you have had - I know only too well how tough it is caring for a loved one who has cancer (lost both my father and my partner to it)
Do you know who his Oncologist is? Talk to them about a care package. They should sort it out for you.
Also he should have an assigned Macmillan Nurse, or a Pilgrims Hospice Nurse Specialist, talk to them about his care needs - they should make sure that things get sorted out; they can also talk about things like respite care when it is required, help with getting his meds delivered to home etc etc
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Gary reading that made me cry, words fail me, I am so sorry. I hope that a care package is sorted out quickly and that your Father in law feels more comfortable.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Hello All.
Things are better now Wally is back home, doctor and district nurse been to see him and I have arranged for Macmillan nurse's to visit, hopefully starting tomorrow.
Ross.
His Oncologist is Dr Cominos and to be fair I don't even think she knew he was in QEQM hospital because she made an appointment to see him tomorrow in Canterbury, had the bed not arrived yesterday, he would still have been in Margate.
I have explained all to Wally's Macmillan nurse and I am waiting to talk to her again.
Thanks All.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
However bad Wally is he will feel better and happier now he is home.
Gary, keep fighting and good luck.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Hello All.
I am sad to say Wally passed away today; he had a comfortable and quiet end.
Thanks for all your support.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Sincere condolences Gary, there's nothing else one can say at a time like this.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
again sincere condolences, good to know however he passed away in his own bed with family supporting him.
Gary may I pass on my condolences to you and your family ,