08/03/2026
The next chapter of the Palace, I hope your all sitting comfortably. I have put a formal complaint into PALS and will be seeking advice for medical negligence. With the help of Chat GBT which is becoming my best friend lol here's how the last few weeks have gone...
Thursday 5th February
Today changed everything. Mom broke her femur just stepping up from the garage into the utility. One small step. One normal day. And just like that, we’re thrown into hospitals and operations.
Friday 6th February
She had her operation and was placed on Ward 10 at Walsall Manor Hospital. Surgery went ahead, and now we wait.
Saturday 7th February
A tiny bit of physio today — just a couple of steps to the end of the bed. That was it. It didn’t feel like enough, nowhere near enough.
Monday 8th February
I rang Mediquip to ask about adding a table on wheels to the equipment order of a commode & walking frame. They said that had to come directly from the hospital. I also asked about a hospital bed. They told me if the hospital ordered one, it could be delivered the next day. That was good to know — or so I thought.
Tuesday 17th February
Mediquip delivered a commode and walking frame. Suddenly Ward 10 wanted to discharge her as soon as the equipment arrived. I explained she cannot walk, she’s had barely any physio, and she hasn’t been prepared for stairs. I was told that “stairs aren’t the case anymore.”
There is nothing set up downstairs at home. I said I needed until Tuesday 23rd to sort out a single bed downstairs. The only people who can help me move everything are away until Sunday — they could help Monday. It felt reasonable. Logical.
Thursday 19th February
Same conversation with the discharge team. I cannot do anything until Monday. I told the doctors the same. They said if it’s not possible, she’ll have to go into a “step-down facility.” I asked what that actually meant. No clear explanation.
Friday 20th February
An abrupt discharge nurse phoned to arrange discharge that day. Again, I explained — nothing is ready downstairs. She asked, “Can’t she go into her own bed?”
How exactly am I supposed to get her upstairs?
“The ambulance will take her up.”
And how do I get her back down if there is a fire? She can’t walk. She hasn’t had physio for five days. She cannot manage stairs.
I went up to Ward 10 to speak face-to-face. She said Mom was medically fit and no longer classed as trauma. If she didn’t go home, she’d have to go into a care home. Mom panicked — “No, I’m not going into one of them.”
We went round in circles of me asking:
“When do you want her out?”
“When the care package is in place”
“When will that be?”
“I’m going to put it in now”
“So, when do you want her out, today or tomorrow?”
“When the care plan is in place”
“And that will be?”
“I’m going to put it in today”
“So, when do you want her out, today or tomorrow?”………...
Finally, I said, “Discharge her tonight.”
She asked if I was willing to bridge the care gap. I said yes. Just get her out.
I went home and rushed to prepare her upstairs room. The carers rang — a care plan had been requested and would start Saturday. They were lovely. Told me to call if I needed anything.
To get her upstairs in the ambulance chair, she had to bend her bad leg. No physio. No exercises given. It was stiff and agonising. The ambulance crew were disgusted she’d been discharged.
Then 24 hours of hauling her around because she has no upper body strength, my friend and I were exhausted. And because she’s now “in her own home,” carers and district nurses aren’t allowed to physically lift or move her due to health and safety liability rules — if they injure themselves or her, responsibility falls differently outside the hospital setting. So, I’m left doing it. (The District Nurses have put a Safe Guarding Complaint in and so have the Carers)
Saturday 21st February
At 7pm district nurses came and deemed it an unsafe discharge. She needed a hospital bed downstairs. They called 999 and sent her back to A&E at Walsall Manor Hospital. A&E were lovely. They said they’d involve social services and arrange physio. (No physio was arranged)
Sunday 22nd February
A call from the social team: “I understand Carol can be discharged today.”
NO. SHE. CANNOT.
What part of “I need until Tuesday” is not sinking in?
“If it’s just a bed, I can organise that today.”
No — I have no one to move the lounge until Monday. I am one person. Disabled myself. Two artificial knees. Collapsed lung history. Blood disorder.
“I didn’t need to know that.”
Sharp. Cold.
So yes, she needs to stay in tonight.
They moved her to AMU. She finally had a shower — her first since being admitted 8 days ago. AMU were amazing.
Monday 23rd February
The boys are back — finally help at home. Mom rings: she’s been moved to FES, in a chair not a bed. From there she’s going home.
I go up at 11am to find out what’s happening. I’d already called the carers — they’d been contacted ten minutes earlier and told a care plan was back in place.
Ellie came to discuss discharge. I explained everything again. She said she’d order the hospital bed for delivery today.
At 2:40pm she apologised — she’d ordered it but it wouldn’t ship until tomorrow. Funny, because Sunday they said one could come the same day. She was moved to Ward 4 for the night.
Mom is emotional, depressed, exhausted. In pain. Fed up of being moved around like furniture. She just wants proper rehabilitation. From day one in A&E she was told she’d be in for ten days. Instead they forced her out at seven with no safe plan.
It feels like targets. Turnaround times. Beds needed. Patients in, patients out, Doesn’t matter about the damage done in between.
Tuesday 24th February
No hospital bed order on the system — I rang Mediquip myself. Ward 4 sister Christie said Ellie couldn’t actually order it last night. So we were lied to.
Christie said she’d organise physio and Mom wouldn’t be moved until the bed is in place.
Wendy Beckett from the discharge team is coming to see me. Mom is now “medically optimised.” Apparently the district won’t allow a hospital bed unless end-of-life. Yet nurses and carers won’t assist her in a standard bed because of safety policies.
Wendy says OT will assess mobility. Let’s see.
Wednesday 25th February
Physios saw her today. She managed one stair. One. That’s apparently enough to say she’s fit for discharge. They’ll organise a toilet frame and bed rails. Shower chair? That’s OT at home. Single bed downstairs? Not their problem.
They said they could provide “muscle” to move furniture. A bit late now as the lads have moved heaven & earth to sort the house out so its safe for mom to come home. They even sorted me a chair lift to which they took out of one house and installed it into our house.
Wendy says discharge Friday. I reminded her I’m working the next three days. I’m not losing more wages because of hospital incompetence. If she comes home Friday, it must be morning — I’m working nights. If she’s not home by lunchtime, there will be no one there.
It’s “sorted” for Friday morning. Hopefully.
When I visited today, she could get herself to the toilet with her walking frame. She’s getting stronger. That’s all I needed — some basic independence before bringing her home.
Apparently all six patients on the ward are going home Friday. Six out, six in. Looks efficient on paper.
But at least three patients told me no one had brought bowls for washing. Those who couldn’t wash themselves hadn’t been bathed.
Thursday 28th February
Mom is doing better again today. She even managed to get herself on and off the bed. Let’s hope tomorrow’s planned discharge goes to plan.
Friday 27th February
8:20am – Mom’s staples have finally been removed. However, the nurse who took them out was shocked and disgusted that the dressing hadn’t been changed or checked for the last two weeks. She is putting a report in about it.
Dr Gazi, who has been overseeing Mom’s care, has been incredible. He arranged the extra equipment, removed her staples, and pushed to make sure everything was in place to get her home. He has been amazing throughout.
10:10am – Wendy from the discharge team called to confirm whether the equipment had arrived, saying they needed to know before sending Mom home. Then she said, “I see you didn’t need the extra frame or toilet raiser,” which clearly shows she already knew it had been delivered. If she knew, why ask me to confirm? Mom could have already been home.
Wendy also assured me Mom would be sent home with all her medication. Now the ward is waiting on pharmacy to dispatch it. (She only came home with the medication she went in with and no extra to see her through)
10:39am – A call from Walsall confirmed the care package will start tomorrow at 3pm. Yesterday, I was told it would begin at lunchtime, and even the carers had called to confirm that. The lack of communication between departments is atrocious.
I can see myself losing yet another day’s work because of the incompetence at Walsall Manor. That makes five days of lost wages.
11:50am – Mom is finally on her way home.
Once home, the guys helping us rearranged everything. They installed handles, tried Mom on her new stair lift, secured the drive and back garden, moved her bedroom around to make it accessible, and ensured she could manoeuvre safely wherever she needed to go. They then put the lounge back together, as it had been cleared out in preparation for a hospital bed.
All I ever asked for was time — time to arrange things properly and ensure Mom was mobile enough to come home safely. It has taken two weeks of arguing, early mornings, late nights, and constant pushing to make this happen and to make the home environment safe.
I don’t know how many other families are fighting the same battle.
How many are being pushed out before they’re ready.
How many feel like they’re shouting into the wind.
