"Glangwili emergency department and stroke services"

My mum attended Ed for a stroke. The treatment options were limited due to a delay in attendance. A stroke was confirmed clinically and mum needed admission. Following the stroke diagnosis she was left in a wheelchair in the waiting room for hours and hours. No follow up neuro obs or assessments to see if she was improving or getting worse. At 04:30 am there were still no beds and despite asking for a trolley in majors so that she could lie down we were told no space available. This was despite a life threatening and changing condition. 

I asked clinicians to follow up in the week following for outpatient follow up and that she wanted to self discharge as was so uncomfortable and tired. No food or drink offered. 

The following week I called several times as no one called back. I eventually called a site manager and was told to re attend ed and start again from the beginning. We did this and had an mri and saw its and physios and a consultant who reviewed meds. This should have been chased earlier. They seemed happy to allow a 73 yr old to discharge with no follow up despite being told they would make contact. 

Complaint was made to pals. Asked to have stroke team call me. They never did. I asked to speak to the medical director. They refused.  Two weeks later another doctor helping called and was sympathetic. 

Two weeks later mum had a new stroke. We attended Ed and I informed the nurse and dr at Triage’s think mums had another stroke. She had fight arm weakness facial droop and severe speech changes. The dr told me it’s probably her salt levels! They ordered bloods which were taken an hour later. 5 hours in she finally got a ct scan which should have been ordered on arrival to exclude a brain bleed. This confirmed a second new stroke. 

I had to ask an hour later for her blood thinner meds. I also asked this time for neurology obs to see if she was deteriorating. All this time left in a wheelchair again in the waiting room. No beds in majors. I spoke to the nurse in charge who was nice but she explained no space. The night crew arrived and after 12 hours with a stroke in the waiting room we decided to leave and attend hospital in Devon England where I live. I asked for copies of imaging reports but this was refused. The nurse in charge on nights threatened to have me removed for advocating for my mum. No empathy. No kindness no understanding. Dangerous and unsafe practice in our opinion.

Pals responded recently and stated they acted reasonably. Unacceptable care and ongoing action being taken. From our experience, this is an unsafe department with little and poor leadership.