Elderly are neglected

<p>My mum is 72, has dementia but is up and about full of life and humour. Thanks to the neglect of the nursing staff at Karl Bremer Hospital my mom is currently in a distressing state. She arrived with a chest infection (10th July) and was discharged by the hospital with pressure wounds and rotting food in her mouth 10 days later only to be returned to the hospital by her care home the next day due to the horrific sores she has suffered. She is currently lying in ward B2 after having her wound cleaned on Friday under anaesthetic. I spoke to Dr Van Zyl, Head of Surgery, on Friday wanting to know what was going on; he said all they could do was clean her wound as she was to old for a skin graft and that due to the size of the wound there is no point as she won't survive it. He said and I quote "people come in to hospital with broken hips but they die of bed sores". He was telling me my mom was going to die! She was lying in a bed with no drip, no fluids and no pain meds. I live in the UK thousands of miles away; completely devastated by what he said. I tried to contact Dr Naude, Head of the hospital, but she was not available. I was traumatised and crying whilst speaking to her temp PA, Riana who said she would inform Dr Naude of the urgency. My mom had a blood transfusion yesterday (Saturday 30th July) and currently has a vac dressing attached to the back sore. Would this have been done had I not challenged her care? No. The lack of basic nursing care has caused this to a lovely mom who doesn't deserve it. No one's parent should go through what she is going through. If my story helps someone's elderly mum or dad it would mean that my mums suffering has brought a little good to someone; my mum and her story has made a difference.</p> <p> </p>