Sunday 9 August 2009

Caring Homes or Uncaring Homes?



A 90 year old war veteran has been banned from visiting his brain damaged 88 year old wife who is in the Canford Chase Nursing Home in Poole, Dorset.

A member of staff telephoned the police last Sunday alleging an assault on a female member of staff by a male visitor.

Dennis Woodward (pictured), an arthritis sufferer, said he lost his footing, because his knee gave way, when he got up out of a chair. "I stumbled forward and held my arms out for somebody to help me, but a carer brushed me aside. I fell and landed on a chair - I must have knocked into her as I was going down. The next thing I knew I was being ordered to leave. I signed out in the visitors book and they showed me out the front door."

Mr Woodard became his wife's sole carer five years ago when she suffered brain damage after keyhole gall bladder surgery. She was moved into the £1,000 a week nursing home in December, since when her husband has spent hours every day sitting by her bedside to keep her company.

A spokesman for NHS Bournemouth and Poole, which funds Mrs Woodward's care, added, "We are aware of the allegations and, with the home, are working to resolve complex and difficult issues."

There certainly seem plenty complex and difficult issue to resolve in this particular home. Somehow I think Mr Woodward's continual presence may be a nuisance to staff and one of the issues. How sad he is stopped from seeing his wife by some 'jobsworth'. Surely, until the problems are resolved, the home and council could organise a social worker to be present while he visits.

8 comments:

wisnaeme said...

.

That is a bluidy disgrace.


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Oldrightie said...

Oldrightie said...
Hey, in Labour's Britain it's a crime to grow old. Heaven forbid you might get a little of your lifetimes contributions returned via your state pension.

subrosa said...

It is indeed wisnaeme. Scares me to death really. Just goes to show my 'wee agreement' with my family is far more dignified.

subrosa said...

OR, our pension contributions have been used up and not invested as you know. Most other sensible countries invested theirs and that's why they are somewhat decent in comparison with ours.

God forbid that I ever end up in a home.

Constantly Furious said...

A good - and carefully written - piece, SR, avoiding the knee-kerk hysteria of the main-stream media.

I also wonder if the 'old boy' is entirely blameless, as the red tops would have us believe, but I agree that there must be some intelligent way 'round this, without a blanket ban.

subrosa said...

Many thanks CF I appreciate the compliment. Even if the old bloke was behaving like a dirty old man, you would think professionals would be able to cope wouldn't you? What would they have done if he'd been the patient?

Demetrius said...

There is something badly wrong here, a 90 and 88 year old couple separated? A man of 90 struggling to cope with an impossible situation? The man himself after all the stress of the recent past, may well have his health seriously compromised. Just what help is he getting?

subrosa said...

Indeed there is something wrong here Demetrius but the local NHS and council have not denied this is the situation.

He doesn't seem to be getting any help. As I said, the least they could do is ensure he sees his wife each day, even though a social worker has to be present to protect both him and the staff.

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