My Husband had a serious Accident at work Advice Needed

[Deleted User]

I did look in to red cross but they charge by the week to borrow equipment. £10 per week just for a toilet aid, £25 per week for a wheelchair. Just those 2 items alone would cost me £140 - £175 a month which when I don't even know if he is going to get any pay and having to try and sort out benefits I couldn't afford to be tied to weekly payments. On top of that I would have to pay £25 delivery and apparently another £25 for them to collect when finished with them. As don't drive and don't have a car.

I managed to pick some stuff up second hand. Sold some things to get the money to get equipment. So at least I don't have to worry about weekly payments.

Hope that makes sense. And when we don't need equipment any more we can give them away to some one else and help someone else out.

elsien

The discharge team  should have considered support at home before discharging him - you  might want to consider a complaint to the hospital about that one.
This is what should have happened. 
Care after illness or hospital discharge (reablement) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Now he is home he is the GP's responsibility at the moment so you could get on to them to see what support he can be referred for to help you both manage in the situation that you are in. They should have been able to provide some of the equipment that you need, on a temporary basis, things like the toilet riser etc. So if you need anything else, contact them as the starting point. When I  needed a commode for a relative unexpectedly, the GP referred for it. 
And you can still ask the GP to refer for OT etc and to check what is happening about follow up and physio. 

With regards to your query about moving him, they should have left him where he was and not moved him to a settee. The only time you would move someone is if there is a greater risk from staying put.  

Undervalued

Savvy_Sue said:

Red Cross would have been able to lend equipment.

It sounds appalling. 

What follow up / aftercare has been arranged?

Certainly when I was in a similar position with a relative, the Red Cross had a "library" of such equipment to lend out.

diystarter7

Hi OP

Sorry to hear about that
Judging by your post both you and hubby are at risk

From what you said, it does not look as though a discharge assemsnt took place and or the care plan has not been actioned etc

Call PALS at hospital and tell them no help or assessment was provided for the safe disacharge home if that is the case and this is how I read your posts

Contact GP, tell them the same they are or should be aware of what to do next

From the link below, this is what should have happened and I've ensured that any of my clients that went into hospital were aware of their rights and as hospitals are busier, things can get missed or delayed. Even the community serives have waiting lists.

You are busy and stressed - s- call gp and if you have a moment to spare, call PALS as there is a posiblity there is a outcome/Care plan there following some assessment that you guys may not be aware of. Often my clients/family thanked me for the heads up as at times these could be missed but my clients asked for one and better informed were aware of what to expect

I hope its sorted soon - assessments for safe discharge home are standard for people that will have difficulty when they get back home even if they are living with someone

Quote

Care can help you recover from an illness or an operation.

Hospital staff will assess your health and help you to decide if you need further help to recover. If they think you do, they will arrange care before you leave hospital.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-after-a-hospital-stay/care-after-illness-or-hospital-discharge-reablement/

Savvy_Sue

It's likely to be the District Nurse who takes out the staples, but phone the GP to arrange it, as soon as you can, because they'll have lists he'll need to be added to.

I was sent a vicious looking tool for staple removal after brain surgery. It arrived the day after I'd seen the District Nurse. I had several people disappointed at not having been able to perform this service for me!

Longwalker

Quoted post removed by Forum Team

Gets a tad tedious doesn't it?

OP, Im so sorry to hear about your husband and the state you have been left in

Im in a similar position, WPI in December, and Ive not been able to work since

I do have grounds to go for WPI and I finally gave in this week and contacted a solicitor. But thats going to take months or years  to get to court so Im not looking at it as an income 

From my experience, as soon as your husband is fit enough, write a detailed account of that happened that day. Time of starting work, times of breaks, time of accident, who was there, who was first to help - every tiny detail . And a floor plan of place of work

Also a diary of all medical interaction, a telephone consultation, a physio  appointment, everything. A record of drugs required. 

And every single receipt for every penny spent on his rehab - aids for the house, taxis to hospital - every penny


You need all this in minute detail if you are going to go down the Work Place Injury route. I know when I had my initial chat with the solicitor I was in such a state I got dates wrong, it was only when writing up what actually happened that day , and checking my diary that I realised, and December weren't that long ago

Im having to remember what the physio said back in January and the surnames of people I barely know. So start recording every little detail now. You may not get that route, but if you do, you are possibly going to be more prepared then the employer

Claiming for a work place injury isnt easy. And I hate to say, unless you have lost life or limb, you are basically looking at loss of earnings and out of pocket expenses  - and even that will be some time away

So for now, get onto the DWP or Citizens advice and get advice on what is the best benefit to claim. I can only get ESA, which when they pull their finger out will be £77 a week. You with children and rent should get UC and all the benefits that go with that

[Deleted User]

Just wanted to say thanks again everyone for your replies.
My husbands work are thankfully being really good right now, spoke to them yesterday they have agreed to pay him full for at least 2 months which is a relief.
They are devistated that this accident happened.

They have reported incident to HSE and thankfully they have admitted that it was not my husbands fault. 

3 witness have confirmed that a low fridge draw was left open by another chef and my husband tripped over this draw when carrying pan back to his area.

We have this in writing and copy of initial report from HSE.

Chef who left drawer open has already been made to do health and safety training.

I will be keeping detailed records, receipts etc over next few months. Just incase we have to take legal action.

I know if you take legal action it can take along time. 

But we don't know right now what's going to happen and if he will recover and be able to go back to work.

So need to protect our selves.

Is there a time limit for taking legal action. Should we see a solicitor now or is it best to wait and see what happens over next couple of months.

Thanks again

Undervalued

teddybear154 said:

Just wanted to say thanks again everyone for your replies.
My husbands work are thankfully being really good right now, spoke to them yesterday they have agreed to pay him full for at least 2 months which is a relief.
They are devistated that this accident happened.

They have reported incident to HSE and thankfully they have admitted that it was not my husbands fault. 

3 witness have confirmed that a low fridge draw was left open by another chef and my husband tripped over this draw when carrying pan back to his area.

We have this in writing and copy of initial report from HSE.

Chef who left drawer open has already been made to do health and safety training.

I will be keeping detailed records, receipts etc over next few months. Just incase we have to take legal action.

I know if you take legal action it can take along time. 

But we don't know right now what's going to happen and if he will recover and be able to go back to work.

So need to protect our selves.

Is there a time limit for taking legal action. Should we see a solicitor now or is it best to wait and see what happens over next couple of months.

Thanks again

Six years, five in Scotland.

However whilst it would be better not to leave it that long for all kinds of reasons, you have certainly have time to draw breath before deciding what to do.

If you go down the no win no fee route be very, very sure you fully understand ALL the terms and conditions before signing.

Also be aware that should any employment claim arise (hopefully it won't but if he were to be dismissed etc) there is a strict three month time limit to bring an employment tribunal claim, with very few exceptions.

Undervalued

[Deleted User] said:

I did look in to red cross but they charge by the week to borrow equipment. £10 per week just for a toilet aid, £25 per week for a wheelchair. Just those 2 items alone would cost me £140 - £175 a month which when I don't even know if he is going to get any pay and having to try and sort out benefits I couldn't afford to be tied to weekly payments. On top of that I would have to pay £25 delivery and apparently another £25 for them to collect when finished with them. As don't drive and don't have a car.

I managed to pick some stuff up second hand. Sold some things to get the money to get equipment. So at least I don't have to worry about weekly payments.

Hope that makes sense. And when we don't need equipment any more we can give them away to some one else and help someone else out.

Gosh, how times change!

Years ago, when I needed their help for a relative it used to be free - although obviously donations were welcomed.

lincroft1710

Undervalued said:

teddybear154 said:

Just wanted to say thanks again everyone for your replies.
My husbands work are thankfully being really good right now, spoke to them yesterday they have agreed to pay him full for at least 2 months which is a relief.
They are devistated that this accident happened.

They have reported incident to HSE and thankfully they have admitted that it was not my husbands fault. 

3 witness have confirmed that a low fridge draw was left open by another chef and my husband tripped over this draw when carrying pan back to his area.

We have this in writing and copy of initial report from HSE.

Chef who left drawer open has already been made to do health and safety training.

I will be keeping detailed records, receipts etc over next few months. Just incase we have to take legal action.

I know if you take legal action it can take along time. 

But we don't know right now what's going to happen and if he will recover and be able to go back to work.

So need to protect our selves.

Is there a time limit for taking legal action. Should we see a solicitor now or is it best to wait and see what happens over next couple of months.

Thanks again

Six years, five in Scotland.

.

Time limit for a personal injury claim is 3 years