These are two simple ways to get your loved ones out of hospital faster, says PROFESSOR ROB GALLOWAY. And hospitals ignoring them can be fatal..
. By Professor Rob Galloway Published: 20:54 EDT, 20 May 2024 | Updated: 20:55 EDT, 20 May 2024 e-mail View comments What is the one thing you could do to help your loved one recover and get out of hospital faster? Make friends with the nurses? Give the consultant a bottle of wine? Make a fuss, complain about everything? Some or none of these things might work — though there's no guarantee it will get your loved one home quicker. But from what I've seen in practice and based on research, there is one really simple but effective step that will make a difference: basically move in with them — visit them as much as you can, take in food for them, help them to eat and drink, and just be there for as long as you are allowed.
As part of my training as an A&E consultant, I spent a year working on medical wards looking after elderly patients. The memory of one woman stands out clearly, because her husband was able to do all this for her. And when he couldn't because of restricted visiting hours, it effectively killed her.
Visit your loved one as much as you can, take in food for them, help them to eat and drink, and just be there for as long as you are allowed This patient was an amazing woman — she had dementia but was so happy, always singing and encouraging the staff and other patients to join in with songs. She was admitted for conf.
