My father in law is being starved to death in hospital

barbiedoll

Have you spoken to the ward pharmacist? They are the ones who sign off TPN prescriptions and may be able to ask the doctors why your FIL has not been given it. The hospital may not "do TPN", but, as you know, they will be able to order it in, someone will be trained in how to administer it.

This is shocking. Surely leaving a patient without food for 19 days can be classed as a criminal act? Make as much noise as you can, as you say, waiting for PALS to act may be too late.

Good luck.

milliemonster

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice, we spoke to pals today and the Matron in charge of the ward has phoned and spoke to my husband (she won't discuss it with me as I'm not directly related) she was condescending and basically said 'how do you know he hasn't had any nutrition' to which my husband told her the ward sister admitted it yesterday, she then stated that there would be a medical reason why and we needed to speak to the Drs, well hubby told her that although we know he has had an abdominal issue that has prevented him from being fed via his feeding tube, there can be absolutely no medical reason why he shouldn't have had iv TPN whilst this was being addressed.
She then said that they weren't intentionally withholding nutrition, to whch hubby stated that actually they were.

To be honest the conversation didn't go well, but it's quite telling that this morning they have started an IV infusion of a drug called pabrinex which is highly potent vitamins usually given to malnourished patients (why have they not given this before?) and restarted his feed via his feeding tube, even though there has been no investigations to find out if it's positioned correctly. It seems they have only done this because we complained yesterday and have opened a can of worms.

We are going to make an appt with the consultant to demand answers and will take this further, it's absolutely incredible that anyone can go into hospital and have nutrition withheld for this amount of time, and that they won't accept there is an issue with this.

But at least for the meantime, they have started refeeding him.

milliemonster

sheramber wrote: »

Twice we have asked to speak to the doctors dealing with relatives and this has been arranged without a problem.

It did mean taking time off work to go in to the hospital during the day to fit in with the doctors but that was a small price to pay.

Thank you, unfortunately my husband has had a lot of time off work over the last few months because of his dad being ill and really can't take any more time off, he's a prison officer and they will only provide so much support, he's at risk of losing his job if he keeps taking more time off ad hoc, as the hospital where his dad is is 40 miles away from where he works and he works shifts it's difficult to get in to see him at all.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

From the point of view of having worked for a Medical Director and knowing what actually works - call and get put through to the Chief Executive's Office (I'd suggest calling as xxx from the Royal Brat Hospital rather than as a relative. Sneaky but effective) and talk about how you cannot see there being any alternative but to approach the media today and subsequently instigate proceedings when he inevitably dies as a direct result of their refusal to provide appropriate treatment, so could they provide the full name and office address of the CE so you could direct the press and legal team most effectively? I'd also make noises about not having to be staff to make use of whistleblowing procedures or make complaints to registration bodies.

You'd be surprised how quickly people take notice once it's been past the Exec Office. Especilly when compared to the sympathetic but ultimately unimportant and generally ignored ladies in PALS.

fuzzyduck22

Has there been involvement with the dietician? Someone requiring tube feeding should be receiving regular ward visits from them, especially someone who may need TPN.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

http://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ourservices/clinicaldepartments/safeguarding/Documents/TRWSAFPOL3293VulnerableAdultsPolicy.pdf

If you search for the trust name and safeguarding concerns, you should be able to find the appropriate SG Contact as well - this was the first pdf version online in my search results.

penguingirl

Hope you get somewhere. I would ask for and follow the trust complaints procedure; you should be given this when asked.

Speak to safeguarding.

Consider finding out who the Clinical Director covering that area is. They will likely be a medic.

Keep records of dates/ times/ names of conversations and ask all family members to do the same.

If you don't get anywhere- go to the ombudsman http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/home

I may have missed it, but how is your FIL in himself? Can he consent for his care to be discussed with you as a non-relative? It would be good if that could be recorded in his notes officially. You don't need to be a blood relative for this, but it does need his consent.

faerielight

That's so awful. It's good you've got nursing experience. do make a complaint. When I was in the ICU, I wasn't fed for 3 weeks and it was awful. My friends/NOK, made a complaint and I finally got fed via TPn. I really hope they start feeding him soon. I know that TPN can sometimes cause liver damage, but if he can't eat normally, he will have to be fed that way. He needs his strength back.. Good luck.

HB58

As Fuzzyduck said, a few posts ago, is a dietician involved? If not, why not?

milliemonster

In himself FIL is still able to give consent and have capacity, but he is incredibly withdrawn, doesn't really talk much, he just sits staring into space he has very little strength and is now just skin and bone, pale and battered and bruised.

We're going to the hospital today to visit this afternoon so will try to find out what's going in.