In the living room at home at Eik in Tønsberg, Anne Thovsen sits flipping through a photo album with her husband Morten Myklebust. Mother Kari Thovsen’s cheerful face smiles at them. In June, the 82-year-old died after what the daughter experienced as a few weeks of hell, both for the mother and the family as relatives. Now Anne Thovsen chooses to tell about what she believes to be poor treatment of an elderly and dying person. – Unworthy is a very strong word. But I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone, says the daughter. Despite what Anne Thovsen describes as a few weeks of hell before her mother’s death, both she and her husband Morten Myklebust are left with many good memories. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Affected by covid on 2 May this year, Kari Thovsen was admitted to the Hospital in Vestfold with covid infection and pneumonia. – She had problems swallowing and had been malnourished over time, says the daughter. Kari Thovsen was well married for many years and was involved both as a local politician and as an employee in elderly care. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news The doctors had good faith in getting her well and started treatment. Already at this point, the daughter believes that the mother should have been given a tube for food and medicine. After a few days, Kari was transferred to Re health centre. But since she was unable to swallow, the mother was unable to take the medicine to treat the inflammation. Two days later she was taken back to the hospital. – During the last six weeks of her life, my mother was moved eight times between different departments at the hospital and municipal health centres, says Anne Thovsen. The probe and needles were thrown out. Kari Thovsen eventually became very unwell and developed delirium. During one night, the daughter experienced being called by her mother 16 times. She was terrified and alone, says the daughter. When Anne Thovsen and her husband arrived at the hospital the next morning, they were startled by the sight that greeted them. – My mother was completely out of her mind and told me that she had been threatened by two or three men with knives. So it was her world, the daughter tells of her mother’s delusions. The mother’s duvet was full of blood. She had spilled both the probe and the needles during the night. – The very worst thing was seeing mother in such a state and the certainty that she had not received help. Hospital round-trip Eventually there was another round at the health centre. This time at Hogsnes. At the health center, the staff said that they had not received any information about the mother’s treatment or medication. After a short time, Kari Thovsen was sent back to the hospital. Once again she was discharged prematurely and the pneumonia flared up again, says the daughter. Re health center, Vestfold Hospital and Hogsnes health center. Photo: Photo/graphics: Philip Hofgaard / news Anne Thovsen reacts to what she believes to be poor coordination between state and municipal health services. In the last week, everyone understood that there was nothing more to do for Kari Thovsen. – We were told that it was coming to an end and that my mother would receive palliative treatment. The hospital apologizes Specialist director Jon Anders Takvam at Sykehuset Vestfold (SiV) apologizes for the experience Thovsen and his relatives had in the weeks before his mother died. – The patient in this case has had six weeks of serious illness, great strain and a lot of discomfort and pain. That we have not been able to handle the process in a way that ensured that both patients and relatives have been well taken care of and safe is deeply regrettable, says Takvam. Specialist director Jon Anders Takvam at Vestfold Hospital Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Routine failure was the reason the hospital did not receive the necessary information from the hospital, he says. – For many, it will be better to spend the last time in municipal care than in a busy emergency hospital, while others need the expertise that is in the hospital. The bedside post in question here has had a particularly demanding operational situation, and the clinic is working on measures to improve the situation, according to Takvam. The moves within the hospital were about the woman being first admitted to the emergency department on all three admissions. She was then moved to other departments, as is the procedure, says Takvam. – Have to stop thinking about money The family has an experience that the Hospital in Vestfold provides too poor a service for the elderly, sick and dying. Economy is the key, believes Thovsen. – The hospital must get people out quickly because they want to save money. It is an undignified basis for treating people. It’s called a health company. It is no longer a hospital. Therein lies the whole point. The result is the treatment she received. Anne Thovsen and her husband Morten Myklebust react strongly to the treatment Kari Thovsen received at the Hospital in Vestfold. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Thovsen wants to speak out about the events in the hope of creating change. She wants others to avoid experiencing something similar. She believes the hospital management must stop thinking about money and start thinking about the whole person. – Mum as a person was not there. Some took the blood tests, some gave medicine, but no one thought the big picture. That is ultimately what is undignified about it, believes Thovsen. Must prioritize Jon Anders Takvam at SiV says it is not the case that the hospital necessarily saves money by discharging patients. – It is necessary that patients who no longer need specialist treatment be transferred to the municipality, so that we can prioritize those patients who need treatment with us. Takvam emphasizes that the hospital has now reminded all employees of the hospital’s procedures in connection with the transfer of patients to municipal health facilities. – Make an impression The Ministry of Health and Care does not know the details of this story. – It makes an impression to hear about elderly people who do not get the help they need, says State Secretary Truls Vasvik. Truls Vasvik, State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Care. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news The government will present a new report to the Storting on better health services before Christmas. The aim is to strengthen interaction and cooperation between municipalities and the specialist health service, explains Vasvik. That people become pawns between state and municipal institutions is a big and important challenge, the state secretary believes. As measures, he highlights the government’s elderly reform and step-up plan for full-time and good staffing in the care service. Vasvik sees the staffing situation in Norwegian hospitals as demanding. He believes the challenges will increase in the coming years. – This is a situation we take seriously and as a whole the health and care services must work continuously with it going forward.
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Kari (82) was moved eight times in six weeks before she died – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
