Jacqueline Hallett said her brother Tyrone Hallett, 60, went five days without fluids and a week without food after being placed on end-of-life care at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. She successfully fought to reverse the decision, but described the ordeal as traumatic.
Brother's Recovery and Sudden Decline
Tyrone, diagnosed with frontal temporal lobe dementia in his early 50s, was admitted on June 24 after aspirating due to swallowing difficulties, leading to a cardiac arrest. Jacqueline, his carer, said he recovered well initially and was due to return home on July 8. She said: “They told us he was doing really well, doing better than expected. He was on a NG tube being satiated and hydrated. Everything was going fantastically.”
However, on July 5, his NG tube came out accidentally. Medics decided not to reinsert it as he was due to transition to oral feeding. When Jacqueline attempted to give him a small amount of fluid on July 6, he coughed forcefully, leading to a nil-by-mouth order. On July 7, the family was informed Tyrone was on end-of-life care, with fluids and the NG tube stopped, and morphine administered.
Court of Protection Application
Jacqueline had been campaigning for a PEG feeding tube for Tyrone due to his swallowing difficulties. She said his GP supported the idea, but his care co-ordinator team never facilitated one. She applied to the Court of Protection on July 10 to reverse the decision. Following this, medics agreed to re-administer fluids, but initially not the NG tube.
Jacqueline said: “He was knocking on heaven's door. Then with an hour or so of putting the fluid back into him he opened his eyes. He’s come back around but he’s very, very weak.” On July 13, medics reversed the decision and refitted the NG tube, planning to continue feeding him for a week until he is strong enough to go home.
Weight Loss and Care Package Reduction
Jacqueline noted Tyrone lost about two stone (12.7 kg) during the ordeal. She said: “If you see him now he’s so thin in hospital. The last week has been so hot and they left him without fluids all that time and started end-of-life meds without our consent.” She also claimed his care package was reduced from 150 hours per week to 42.5 hours, based on the assumption he would be discharged as end-of-life.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: “We are unable to comment on individual patient cases, but are aware that issues have been raised regarding the care received by Mr Hallett. Any matters relating to patient care are reviewed through the appropriate, established processes.”
Family's Distress and Future Concerns
Jacqueline expressed fear that the reduced care package will leave her unable to leave the house. She said: “I will never be able to leave the house. I am already in the house from 6.30pm when the carers finish until 10am the following day.” She added: “I can’t even understand how these kinds of things can happen. I’m very distraught and trying to save my brother’s life.”
