AN OUTRAGED son has hit out at hospital bosses over ‘shocking’ treatment of his dad in the last seven years.

Former children’s care worker Stephen McKeown, whose dad suffers from a series of chronic conditions including COPD and asthma, says his father Thomas has repeatedly been sent home from Inverclyde Royal without life-saving medication.

The 83-year-old Kilmacolm man, pictured inset and right with Stephen, who is undergoing tests for dementia, has also arrived home on his own at ‘all hours’ — with his family unaware he has been discharged and no home helps alerted.

Following the latest episode — and despite repeated complaints to the hospital and social care bosses — his concerned son has now decided to go public with his complaint.

Angry Stephen, who used work in the Kibble Residential Care Centre for children, said: “The latest incident was the last straw and I thought it was time to speak out.

“My dad was taken to A&E because he was really ill but he was sent home later that day.

“There was no phone call to say he was coming home, even though I had asked for this.

“I opened the door and there was the paramedic trying to get him up the stairs.

“He had no dosette box with all his medication, no discharge letter, and he didn’t even have keys to get into his flat.

“His box has all his inhalers and medication for his conditions. 

“The paramedic said he didn’t have it and I contacted A&E who came back with it several hours later.

“I can’t imagine what would happen if dad needed them.

“Later on I found antibiotics for a urine infection hidden in his dressing gown.

“But this isn’t the first time this has happened — I would say it has happened at least a dozen times. 

“We have had a nightmare in the last seven years.

“He is sent home at all times with no-one contacted to say he has been discharged.

“Then I find he has no medication with him.”

Stephen stays with his dad Thomas in St James Terrace in Kilmacolm and is his main carer.

Seriously ill Thomas was sent home from A&E on August 28 only to be readmitted the next day with severe shortness of breath.

He remains in Inverclyde Royal at present for tests about suspected strokes and vascular dementia.

While son Stephen says the care his dad receives from home helps is ‘first class’, he says that there are major shortcomings in almost all other areas.

On a number of occasions Mr McKeown has been left bewildered by an apparent lack of knowledge from key workers about his dad’s basic case history.

He said: “I was once told that he was getting admitted to the Larkfield Unit and I should think about care at home for my dad.

“I told them that he has been getting home support for seven years and asked for that to be made clear in his records.

“On another occasion it was suggested he needed adaptations, and again I had to tell them that is already in place.

“My dad gets sent home without discharge letters all the time and I don’t find that acceptable.
“When I complained that he had not been given a letter they told me my dad should have asked for one.

“I mean, he is being tested for dementia!

“I’m also concerned that letters don’t get passed on to my dad’s GP in time.

“On occasion council home care workers have not received letters to say he is home.”

As a result of the catalogue of problems Stephen has made numerous complaints to both the health board and Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership.

He said: “They say they will deal with it, but nothing ever changes.

“I get a hostile reaction because they don’t like to be challenged but I have been involved in care and I know what should and shouldn’t happen.

“I really worry what would happen if my dad was alone and I wasn’t there.”

The Telegraph put all the concerns outlined by Mr McKeown to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board.

In their response the board appeared to suggest that Mr McKeown had been discharged from hospital, which at the time of going to press was NOT the case.

A health board spokesman said: “The patient attended the emergency department last month before being discharged with medication.

“He was admitted 12 hours later with increased shortness of breath.

“All the patient’s medication was administered as prescribed during his stay at the hospital.

“The patient was reviewed by his consultant and assessed as being medically fit for discharge home.

“The senior doctor in the emergency department contacted a family member to inform the family the patient was being discharged with appropriate medication. 

“The family member confirmed someone would be at home to meet the patient following his discharge.”

NHS bosses say they are willing to meet with Stephen to discuss his complaints.

The health board’s spokesman added: “Staff are happy to discuss with the family any concerns they have.”