Northland pensioner recovering from surgery appalled at treatment by Whangārei Hospital

Pauline Barron, 73, of Maunu, says something needs to be done to prevent anyone else living alone from having a similar experience at Whangārei Hospital. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A Northland pensioner living alone is appalled that Whangārei Hospital staff sent her home to recover from hip replacement surgery knowing she had no means of showering and no one to help her.

Advocates for seniors say her experience is not an isolated one, hence their calls for the Northland District Health Board to pursue the idea of a transition unit to alleviate the issue.

Pauline Barron, 73, was dropped on the doorstep of her Maunu home by a taxi a day earlier than her planned discharge from Whangārei Hospital.

Inside her house was a half-finished bathroom undergoing renovations as she was unable to get into the shower because it stood over a bath.

"The hospital staff said it was no good what I've got but then they say I've got to get out and go home, with no way of getting into the shower and with no one there to help me," Barron said.

"I said to them 'you realise I've got no shower and no bath?' and they said as long as you can get to the sink or toilet. I'm just flabbergasted."

Nine days prior, Barron had undergone hip replacement surgery after an early morning fall out of bed landed her in hospital with a broken femur and cracked patella.

Her medical team decided on the additional hip surgery since she had already spent 10 years on the waiting list.

Barron, who was fit and healthy, made "good progress" after the surgery and could return home on Friday, November 5.

She arranged for a friend to pick her up as most of her support network were in Kaitaia.

Whangārei Hospital has come under fire for their treatment of Pauline Barron, 73, discharged a day early and sent home where she had no shower facilities or added help. Photo / Tania Whyte

She'd lived there before moving to Maunu so that her daughter could stay between treatments at Whangārei Hospital. Sadly her daughter had recently passed away.

Barron had a sister in Orewa who had yet to get a travel exemption to travel north to help care for her.

"Then on Thursday morning there was a massive flurry of activity and the charge nurse, the ward nurse, and a couple of others came and said you can go home now."

Barron told them she had no way of getting home as her friend was tied up with work and there was no one else who could help her.

Originally they thought she may be able to stay longer in the Rehabilitation Unit but there no were no free beds, and they offered to arrange a carer to assist her four hours a week.

"I was in shock," she said.

Staff paid for a taxi to take Barron home with her essential walker and whatever healthcare equipment could fit in the car.

"He left them at the front door, got in his cab and took off. I just stood there with my mouth open," she said.

A healthcare worker followed 15 minutes later in a van with the remaining gear Barron needed while she recovered at home.

"She just dumped it in the lounge."

Barron asked the worker if she could "pop" the commode over the toilet for her.

"She took it in there, popped it over and it didn't fit. The legs needed adjusting."

"I said it needed to be higher, and she said, 'I don't know how to do that – I'm not an occupational therapist'."

Then she just left, Barron said.

"I just sat at the table in a state of absolute shock. I thought, I really needed that toilet seat."

She spent the rest of the day trying to adjust the gear herself despite being told not to bend or twist.

"Something has got to be done...I deserve to be cared for as much as the next person and my age shouldn't come into it just because they think we're close to the end."

"Not having spent time in Whangārei Hospital myself, I wouldn't wish that on my own worst enemy," Barron said.

"The whole hospital needs demolishing, it's in a shocking state of disrepair...and we need to help our nurses. Maybe it'll help others from not having the same experience as I did."

Questions sent to the Northland DHB on Monday this week remained unanswered when this edition went to print last night.

Whangārei Age Concern president Beryl Wilkinson said generally the struggles faced by older people living alone flew under the radar.

"Something as simple as changing a light bulb becomes incredibly difficult, and to get assistance usually comes with a costly callout fee."

"They'll just stay in the dark," she said.

Wilkinson expressed her desire for a "step-down facility" utilised by older people to transition from hospital to home.

"I think it's vital at the moment as we have a community of older people in Whangārei, the second-largest in New Zealand and growing faster."

It was especially important given the lack of staffing available for at-home care, she said.

"Until that happens, organisations like Age Concern are here to help the older person navigate the system and get the help they need, and we'll see it through to the end."