Elderly stroke patient left for 20 hours without food or any fluids

Published on Wednesday 22 April 2009 21:58

AN ELDERLY stroke patient was left without food or water for 20 hours after delays in her care by the NHS, a report revealed yesterday.

The woman was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Shetland after her feeding tube became blocked.

But after delays in getting an ambulance and then discharging her from the hospital, she had been without fluid or nutrition for 20 hours and was becoming dehydrated.

Yesterday, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman upheld complaints made by the woman's husband about her treatment.

The report said that the patient – known as Mrs C – suffered a severe stroke in 2004, leaving her paralysed and unable to speak or swallow. In 2006, her feeding tube became blocked and an ambulance was called to the care home where she lived.

Her husband complained about a delay in the ambulance arriving and taking her to hospital. He also complained that no arrangements were made to take his wife home after attending A&E, meaning in total she had spent 20 hours without fluids.

On another occasion the patient went to hospital and was sent home in a taxi – to the wrong address.

The ombudsman upheld all of the husband's complaints about the care his wife received.

"It must have been frightening for an elderly person, unable to move or speak, to be taken to the wrong place," the ombudsman said. "The board have not been able to explain how this happened although they agree it was unacceptable."

An NHS Shetland spokeswoman said: "We have the report with the recommendations and we will be implementing the recommendations."

The ombudsman also asked the Scottish Ambulance Service to apologise to Mrs C for a delay in taking her to hospital.