An 87-year-old patient suffering from dementia warmed the hearts of TV viewers last night as she gave two thumbs up as she finally got out of hospital, nearly two months after being told she could leave.
Amid a bed shortage crisis – and with all non-urgent operations liable to cancellation at short notice – at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, frail Mavis was on the ward for six weeks after her family could not afford the care home she wanted to live in.
Both Mavis’ and her daughters’ anguish at the wait to see whether the care home would waive the shortfall was clear, with Mavis’ “unmanageable” condition leaving sisters Lynn and Sue feeling they had no other options available to help look after their mum.
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“We never, ever thought we’d put her in a home, no matter how bad she got,” explained Lynn, who added her mother had suffered falls in the night and was once found on the kitchen floor surrounded by broken glass.
She resolved: “We said this would never happen, but it has had to happen.”
Fighting back tears as she leafed though a family photo album showing Mavis in better health, Lynn continued before her voice trailed away: “We’ve had the best of our mum…”
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But despite Mavis’ decline, viewers detected she was an indomitable spirit as she turned down food she didn’t care for, declared herself “bored” and struck up a particularly touching friendship with nurse Marc.
Marc, a carer in the specialist HCOP (Healthcare of the Older Person) ward, was seen dashing around the hospital trying to ensure Mavis’ medication was ready to go after she was given the green light to leave at short notice for her care home.
And just before Mavis was seen leaving the hospital in a wheelchair, patient and carer shared some tender moments as she kissed his hand in gratitude and he warmly patted her hair as they said goodbye to one another.
Viewers admitted to having their hearts in their mouths whenever Mavis was on screen, hailing Marc as a “star”.
Oh Mavis. You’re breaking my heart. Lovely lady. #hospital
— Gardenchick (@Gardenchick4) March 26, 2018
On a serious note was chuffed when Mavis got discharged, she’s a real character #hospital
— Tracy Capuano (@Tracycap) March 26, 2018
Aww Mavis.. she still knows what a star Mark is and how he cares for her… when she kissed his hand 😭 #Hospital
— Julie Crumpton 🌹 #FBPE (@kaleidobrain) March 26, 2018
Your story with Mavis was so touching @marccole80 #hospital https://t.co/GbBJRl7ggK
— Bethan Dinning (@______Beth) March 26, 2018
I could barely breathe when @marccole80 misplaced Mavis’ prescriptions and when he pleaded for an extra hour with only 45 minutes to go. He’s ‘a bit of all right’ it seems @nottmhospitals @teamnuh #Hospital
— Barbara Cathcart (@B_Cathcart) March 26, 2018
Mavis’s story perfectly demonstrates social care crisis – she doesn’t need to be in #Hospital, but suffers from dementia and can’t be discharged until a suitable bed is found at a care home. Keeping her in hospital costs the Trust £380 a day pic.twitter.com/RAs3KxHEmB
— Darshna Soni (@darshnasoni) March 26, 2018
Hospital is on BBC Two, Mondays at 9pm.
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