Bowles Lodge Stays!: September 2011

Friday, 30 September 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOWLES LODGE

Bowles Lofdge celebrated its 30th birthday today with a special party attended by residents, family members, staff and friends.

Bowles Lodge has been providing wonderful care to elderly people for 30 years. It makes me sick to my stomach to know they plan to knock it down and force the remaining few residents out like my mum.

Kent County Council decided not to advertise the party yesterday - go figure!

Monday, 12 September 2011

On 5th September mum was admitted to Kent and Sussex Hospital with pneumonia. When I arrived the doctors discovered she had Ventricular Tachycardia and a heart beat of 154. This was clearly their priority and if left mum would die. They administered a powerful drug through a special line (during the procedure mum stopped proceedings as she was peckish and asked for a biscuit which was provided!). This did not really work so they gave her a small anaesthetic and gave shocked her heart (not resuscitated) back to a normal rhythm.

She recovered well from both this and the pneumonia and was back at Bowles Lodge a week later.

Summary of key events since June 2010

29/11: I visit Rusthall Lodge, an independent nursing home near Tunbridge Wells, and can tell straight away that mum would be very well looked after there
24/11: I visit mum and break the news to her gently - she replies: "I want to go to sleep and not wake up" - that gave me a lump in my throat but I assure her that I will do all I can to protect her health and wellbeing
26/11: I write an open letter to Graham Gibbens, the Lead Cabinet Member who was responsible for deciding to close Bowles Lodge
24/11: We appeal to Lord Justice Moses - he rejects the appeal on paper - we don't have the option for an oral hearing on 28/11 as Louise is heading out the door - that's what happened - Louise left - home closes - we can do nothing - check-mate!
23/11: We had to apply on this date as Louise was due to leave the next day and the home closes - our application was turned down by the judge - in effect he was saying that social workers can make medical decisions so if ever you are concerned about that nasty pain don't go to your GP - pop down to the social work department - this is crazy!
22/11: We have no choice but to apply for an emergency injunction in the High Court to stop them closing the home and to allow mum to be discharged there and do a carefully planned move to another home when assessed properly and professionals views actually taken into account
21/11: Kent County Council dig their heals in and refuse to accept the expert medical opinions - bizarre!
15/11: By now there is lots going on between all parties - mum is very lonely, quite well and is blocking an acute bed in a brand new hospital
14/11: Mum's legal team orders an independent medical assessment which concludes she does not need nursing care and she could be discharged to Bowles Lodge
10/11: Mum's consultant is saying she does not need nursing care - tensions are becoming apparent between the hospital and Kent County Council
4/11: I get a copy of the updated Individual Needs Portrayal - this has allegedly been put together with all the professionals involved and concludes that mum needs nursing care
2/11: Naive soul that I am I am convinced mum's needs will be properly assessed as not needing nursing care and that she will be discharged back to Bowles Lodge by 24/11
30/10: Now I'm smelling a rat - the only other person at Bowles Lodge is mum's friend, Louise who is 102, and she flies to New Zealand to live with her daughter (a wonderful story in itself) on 24/11
28/10: The Individual Needs Portrayal document is sent to us from Kent County Council (this was the one started on 6th October) and it says mum has nursing needs so cannot go back to Bowles Lodge as it is only registered for residential care - check! (to use a chess analogy)
24/10: Mum's consultant concurs with his A&E colleague that mum could be discharged to Bowles Lodge but has to liaise with Kent County Council's social worker in the hospital
22/10: I visit the next 2 days and no-one gives me a straight answer
21/10: Mum admitted to hospital with "breathing difficulties" - this turns out to be false - it is in fact a way of getting mum out of Bowles Lodge
20/10: mum celebrates her 90th birthday - this turns out to be her last day at Bowles Lodge!
6/10: Very strange re-assessment meeting at Bowles Lodge of mum's needs where a senior social worker turns up and basically re-writes the assessment completed on 5/8 by mum's care manager -
26/9: Yvonne initiates proceedings in the High Court against Kent County Council
5/8: Individual Needs Portrayal completed by mum's care manager and Bowles Lodge manager - concludes she needs residential - not nursing care
by5/9: Mum is admitted to hospital with pneumonia and ventricular tachycardia - discharged and recovering at Bowles Lodge one week later
14/6: Mum suffers a small stroke that effects her right hand
18/2: ITV Meridian Tonight broadcasts interview with mum about her disgust at the Council's decision
14/2: Yvonne Hossack issues Letter Before Claim to Kent County Council - they do not respond
8/2: MPs debate closure of homes in Kent in Westminster Hall - covered by BBC TV news and ITV news
26/1: Council informs to mum in writing of the decision to close Bowles Lodge by January 2012
20/1: Extended interview with me on Julia's BBC Radio Kent show
19/1: Vera attends Cabinet Scrutiny meeting to hear he son give evidence and appears on BBC TV news
19/1: I attend 6-hour Cabinet Scrutiny Meeting and give evidence - decision is unchallenged by Meeting - six residents have died since 23rd June 2010
13/1/11: Councillor Graham Gibbens, Lead Member, decides to close Bowles Lodge
30/12/10: Council publishes consultation report recommending Bowles Lodge is closed
1/11: Consultation ends
29/10: I submit an alternative proposal - this is dismissed by Kent County Council with seemingly little thought
20/10: Mum celebrates her 89th birthday - 3 residents have died since 23/6
8/9: Oliver Mills, Managing Director, Kent Adult Social Services, writes to mum refusing to do an assessment of the risks to her life if moved from Bowles Lodge
29/7: Public meeting at Hawkhurst Primary School covered by BBC Radio Kent and regional BBC TV and ITV news
12/7: We invite Yvonne Hossack, a lawyer who fights legal cases on behalf of disabled and elderly people about service withdrawal and home closures
11/7: I launch Bowles Lodge Stays! campaign and meet with other relatives to plan our opposition
27/6: Kent & Sussex Courier: "Residents will die if moved"
23/6: Kent County Council announces consultation about a review of care provision for elderly people in Kent and presents its plans to residents and relatives at Bowles Lodge using PowerPoint - a truly bizarre opening to this "consultation" - it is obvious from the outset that they are committed to demolishing Bowles Lodge

Bowles Lodge Stays!

The legal process to save Bowles Lodge is over but the spirit of Bowles Lodge lives on!

This is Vera, my mum

Friday, 30 September 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOWLES LODGE

Thursday, 29 September 2011

Yvonne files mum's case to High Court

John talks with Julia on BBC Radio kent

Monday, 12 September 2011

Mum in hospital