News helps Janet smile once more

A WOMAN with dementia who begged her son to take her out of a specialist ward he described as "dreadful" has been transferred to another city hospital.

Janet Moss, 78, pleaded to her son Alistair, "don't let me die in here", after being moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital's ward one in February.

Since Mr Moss's concerns about the ward were highlighted in the Evening News last week, the NHS has agreed to move her to the family's preferred choice, the Royal Edinburgh psychiatric hospital.

Mr Moss, 53, from Longstone, thanked the Evening News and said his mother was smiling again for the first time in weeks.

"Without doubt this would not have happened were it not for last week's article," he said.

"She was moved up after I had a chat with a consultant and the difference is incredible. It is a huge weight off our minds."

The 53-year-old, who runs a removal business, said he was appalled by what he had seen at the Royal Victoria. He said he was forced to separate fights, witnessed patients with black eyes and was concerned at how rapidly his mother appeared to regress within weeks of being moved there.

His concerns about inadequate staffing levels and training were echoed by other families of Lothian dementia patients.

More than 30 relatives contacted the Evening News in the following days to highlight their concerns. Alzheimer Scotland has criticised the standard of dementia care in hospitals across Scotland and called for more training of nurses and investment in staff cover.

The Royal Victoria, Liberton and Herdmanflat hospitals were particularly criticised, while many praised the Royal Edinburgh for its quality of care and pleasant environment.

Mr Moss added today: "For the first time in weeks she has a smile on her face."

Dr Paul Morrison, consultant psychiatrist at NHS Lothian and lead clinician for old age psychiatry, said the health board was committed to improving dementia care, saying it was aiming for the "best standards of care possible".

Jackie Sansbury, NHS Lothian's director of strategic planning and executive lead for REAS (Royal Edinburgh and Associated Services), said: "Following several discussions it was agreed that Mrs Moss's care needs could be met in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and the clinicians agreed that a move there was in her best interests."