90-year-old woman left on doorstep in nightie because of health and safety

[AB Asks]

The 90-year-old lady was returning home after a hip operation and was just left on her doorstep for over two hours. The taxi driver said he could not help her in the house for health and safety reasons. The taxi firm stood by its choice saying that they have to protect themselves over allegations of misconduct if they were to enter someone's home. The old lady's daughter also questioned the actions of the hospital for discharging her mother in only a nightie and why she was not taken home in an ambulance. What do you think?

[daffy654]

If the daughter is so concerned why wasn't she there to ensure her mother was treated properly?

[Pippa68]

I agree with the Taxi firms decision ~ no matter how ridiculous it seems, this is the age we live in.

It was down to the Hospital and the daughter to make sure the woman got home ok, but I agree with daffy in that I think the responsibility lay more with the daughter.

[Loosehead]

Just the inevitable result of our increasingly litigious society. Everyone is petrified of being sued so we have the health and safety fascists banning things. They're chopping down trees in some councils in case they sued for a conker falling on someone. You couldn't make it up!

[Ethel]

The daughter could be in prison,or live in Australia - any number of things.

The hospital should have ensured the lady had somebody at home to help before she was discharged.

However, she could have discharged herself. We simply don't know.

I can well understand the taxi driver's reluctance - he could have been accused of theft or assualt as examples. Shame he could not have got a neighbour to assist, but he is a taxi driver and not a carer.

[Loosehead]

Just the inevitable result of our incresasingly litigious society. Everyone's petrified of being sued. The health and safety mafia have banned just about everything that may remotely result in injury. They're even chopping down conker trees in case one falls on someone, you couldn't make it up! That's a conker not a tree!

[Pippa68]

Actually a link would help with the replies, I agree with what you have said Ethel.

[Ethel]

Bear in mind also that the daughter could be in her 70s and frail and in ill health herself.

[daffy654]

Most of the stories ED uses come from the Daily Hate...oops Daily Mail so i'd check there for the story.

[daffy654]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/new s/news.html?in_article_id=497457&in_page_id=17 70

[Ethel]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=497457&in_page_i d=1770

Having read the article it seems she wasn't dumped outside in the cold, but left in a hallway outside her flat in sheltered accommodation.

[bednobs]

a taxi drivers job is to driver someone somewhere in their taxi, not settle someone into home when they've come out of hospital. We simply do not know enough to make a judgement either way about this story do we?

[bednobs]

a taxi drivers job is to driver someone somewhere in their taxi, not settle someone into home when they've come out of hospital. We simply do not know enough to make a judgement either way about this story do we?

[cruella]

The fact that she lived in Sheltered Housing, there should have been no problems.
Normally the staff on the Ward would call the warden and inform her that the tenant was due to be discharged. I should think the family ought to have informed the Warden also.
Wardens hold master Keys to all houses, so the problem should never have arisen.

[LoftyLottie]

Very easy to pass judgement when we don't know the proper facts. Ethel's comments are very wise. I made a posting on another thread about care for the elderly and someone jumped in saying that the elderly should be looked after by their families and not in care homes. Easy to say!!! Just try looking after an elderly, disabled relative when you are suffer from a disabling condition.

[youngmafbog]

Bang on Loosehead. 'elf 'n saftey wins again. There's now a case where some 5 year olds are banned from wearing angels wings - yep 'elf 'n saftey Guvnor.

[kwicky]

Taxi drivers are not paid to be carers. Obviously the person who discharged her from the hospital is guilty of the same crime as the idiot who released those 2 computer disks. ie. "I just want them out of my sight, whatever happens to them after they leave is someone else's responsibility".