“They killed my Grandmother”

I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction with the care my grandmother received at Helen Joseph Hospital. At 85 years old, my grandmother had been in excellent health until a slip and fall in the bathroom resulted in a broken hip. She was alert, able to walk, talk, and manage her daily needs with minimal assistance from us, her family.

Despite the urgency of her situation, it took 12 hours for her to be admitted to a ward after arriving by ambulance. This delay was particularly distressing given her advanced age and the fragility of her condition. Once finally admitted, the care and communication continued to be lacking. We were only informed that she had a broken hip, with no details on her treatment plan or prognosis.

The communication with the medical staff was virtually non-existent. We had to repeatedly ask for updates on her condition, receiving the same vague responses each time. This lack of transparency was not only frustrating but also deeply troubling as we were left in the dark about her care.

My grandmother's condition deteriorated rapidly. She was fitted with a catheter which, due to her restlessness, frequently came out. Despite notifying the staff about the need for more attentive care and requesting diaper changes, our concerns were largely ignored. The response from the nurses was dismissive, with assurances that they would address these issues during their routine rounds, but no actual improvement was observed.

As the days progressed, my grandmother’s health declined significantly. She became unable to eat, drink, or communicate. My father’s attempts to speak with the doctor were met with constant unavailability. Eventually, when my father did manage to speak with a doctor, he was informed that my grandmother's deteriorating state was a result of sedatives that had been administered. This crucial information about the sedatives' potential impact on her condition was never communicated to us, highlighting a severe lapse in the management of her care.

Ultimately, my grandmother’s condition worsened to the point where she required oxygen, her temperature dropped, and her heart rate became unstable. Despite these alarming signs, her condition was not adequately addressed in time, and she passed away a few hours later.

The experience we endured at Helen Joseph Hospital raises serious concerns about the quality of care and the accountability of the staff. It is deeply troubling that a person in relatively good health, admitted for a broken hip, could deteriorate so severely and rapidly under their care. There is a pressing need for those responsible for my grandmother’s treatment to be held accountable for their negligence and lack of effective communication. Families entrusting their loved ones to medical facilities deserve compassionate, responsive, and competent care, which we regrettably did not receive.