Access to Water, Food and Better Nursing Care for England's Hospital Patients and Yet Save Money as well for cash-strapped NHS

Suggestions from Patient Protect website, still valid today:

How to stop existing problems.
 
Are the staff reluctant to show you the patient's records and discuss the drugs being used? Get patient's consent.

Is Diamorphine / Morphine PRN on the prescription chart? Challenge.

Is a DNR order in the notes without your knowledge? Get removed at once.

Challenge NIL BY MOUTH re fluids and food even if DNR in place, especially in your
non-dying patient relative. Check Fluid Intake.

Are you told that the Consultant / Doctor / Surgeon is too busy to see you? Complain.

If you feel that the patient is deteriorating rapidly and their treatment seems to be the cause, rather than the cure, then step two is get a second opinion from another Doctor.
 
* Complain by email/letter to the Chief Executive of the hospital and Consultant responsible for your relative's care.
* Immediately follow up with a call to their secretaries and confirm receipt of the email.

Stress to them that you will take things further if nothing is done. Ask for their name, write it down together with the time of the conversation. Send emailed copies to other organisations.

* If the situation does not improve rapidly, demand to see the Consultant and demand an immediate transfer for your relative.

* Always bring your GP prescribed medicine with you into hospital and that ask they immediately are written up by the doctor so that they can be administered.

  You can find the name of your M.P. and a contact address at http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

How to keep yourself or your
Loved One / Best Mate Safe in Hospital

* The nurse at the desk is far too posh to listen - talk to the Carers who do the actual direct care of the patient.

* Come in and feed / give water and tea to your loved one in hospital. 
Dehydration can cause death in as little as three days, so it is important to spot it early. The first effect of dehydration is a sensation of thirst, so should be taken seriously. One useful test for serious dehydration is to gently pinch some loose skin between thumb and forefinger. Dehydrated skin stays 'pinched' whereas normal skin lays back flat immediately.

* As family or best mate come into hospital and make sure the carers give your loved one / mate a commode, change soiled bed linen and carers stay with loved ones in toilet if your relative/mate can't hold on with hands and legs not good.

* Keep records of all significant events - keep a diary with names of staff, what they do/do not do, etc, record conversations (use recording walkman, dictaphone, mp3 recorder, mobile phone etc), photograph evidence of neglect.

* Ask at the nurses' desk which nurses are responsible for hydration (water), nutrition (feeding) and pain control. Write these names down as you get them. These names should be clearly stated in the Nursing Care Plan. Write down the name of the person you are talking to.
 
* Ask for the name of the consultant responsible for the patient, and also ask for the name of the doctor who will be responsible for the day to day management of the case.

* Always bring your GP prescribed medicine with you into hospital and that it is immediately written up by the doctor so that it can be administered.

If you ask all these reasonable questions in a friendly manner, you can expect straightforward civil answers.
Explain that it is important that you know who is responsible for what in order that communication can be improved and problems can be avoided.