Compass Carers Support Group, Bishops Lydeard

Key findings

There were problems with information being available to hospital staff and information being lost:

1. One member of the group reported that they were in being treated in Musgrove Hospital for some months and had been transferred to Dene Barton Community Hospital. They were discharged from Musgrove at 11pm and when they arrived at Dene Barton the staff did not know any medical history or care plan. When staff phoned Musgrove Hospital to get an update as to the patient’s care and treatment it was quickly established that they would not be able to treat him and he had to be returned to Musgrove hospital.
2. Another member of the group reported important information about her husband’s care and treatment was not communicated to staff at Yeovil District Hospital. She had complained, but got no response.
3. The group had been made aware that Compass Disability would not be continuing with carers support groups or services after September 2017, and that the Community Council for Somerset would be taking over the services. Members of the group were concerned that it had not been confirmed if the support groups would continue under the new service.
4. A member of the group reported that a district nurse who was treating a neighbour had assessed that the patient was too ill to be left and had asked her as a neighbour to stay with him as she had to go to another visit. The commentator did not know the neighbour or what risks were involved and felt it bad that they were asked as opposed to a professional. They felt this potentially put them and their neighbour at risk.
5. One member of the group commented that they had received good signposting from the Symphony Project which has now expanded to Taunton.

This report was produced by the previous Healthwatch Somerset service provider, The Care Forum.