A DAUGHTER has spoken of her anger at the treatment her mother received at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, where she died from gangrene and blood poisoning.
Prompted by our ‘Give the elderly some dignity’ campaign, Wendy Mason decided to speak out about the time that her mother, Joan Allen, spent at the hospital.
We are campaigning for elderly care to be improved at the L&D following a number of families who were deeply concerned at the treatment their relatives had received.
“I understand exactly how these people feel,” said Mrs Mason, whose mother died on May 1.
“We saw old people left sitting on commodes and calling out for over an hour. It’s disgusting.”
Mrs Allen, who was 86 when she died, was admitted to Ward 14 on December 30 with pressure sores and a urine infection, and was discharged on January 14 with the promise of a care package.
“Nothing had been set up for when she was discharged,” said her daughter. “My sister and I were having to lift her.”
Mrs Allen had to be readmitted three weeks later when her pressure sores became infected again.
“It took me five weeks to speak to a doctor and it took ages to get the nurses’ attention,” said Mrs Mason.
“There was only one nurse in there who really did care about my mum, I never saw them smile or talk to us or her. She wasn’t given any help with feeding despite the fact her hands were arthritic.
“We were given the impression that she was going to get better but really she was deteriorating.
“They told us to find us a place for her in a care home as she was taking up a bed. I feel she was treated appallingly.”
Hospital spokesman Barry Mayes said the L&D would gladly investigate the family’s concerns once a formal complaint was received.
He said: “We do provide good services but our challenge is providing good services to every patient all of the time.
“We receive around 350 complaints every year, which is very small compared to the 5,000 letters of thanks each year.”
What’s your experience of the L&D? Contact our newsdesk – editorial@lutonnews.co.uk