NHS inquiry as 'horrified' family hit out at treatment of woman, 85

Published on Sunday 9 May 2010 22:51

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a family were left "horrified" by the treatment of their elderly mother at the hands of the NHS.

Nancy Wilson was shunted between four hospitals and contracted Clostridium difficile before her death in March.

The 85-year-old's family have condemned poor standards of hygiene they observed and the undignified treatment of elderly patients, leading NHS Lothian to investigate their complaints.

It follows growing concern about the poor standards of care experienced by some older people in Scottish hospitals.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Jim Martin has repeatedly highlighted his own concerns about substandard care of the elderly.

Mrs Wilson's daughter, Linda Walton, wrote to her MSP Fiona Hyslop after being disturbed by what she had seen during her mother's time in hospital in Edinburgh.

Mrs Wilson was diagnosed with the condition temporal arteritis last September and eventually lost the sight in both eyes, despite having high doses of steroids which had also concerned her family.

In February, she was admitted to the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, before being moved to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and later the Royal Victoria Hospital – a rehabilitation hospital for the elderly. Almost immediately, the family were concerned about her care and wanted to take her home, but were advised against it.

Their concerns grew as they witnessed the care of elderly people on the ward where Mrs Wilson was being treated.

"While my mother was in the Royal Victoria I was horrified at the treatment of elderly patients and standards of hygiene I saw when visiting," Mrs Walton said. "There appeared to be no obvious signs of staff interacting with patients."

Mrs Walton said her mother was offered hot drinks which were put in a mug in front of her as she was told to drink. She said staff had to be constantly reminded that her mother could not see.

"Food was also being handled by nurses who had recently been tending to patients on the ward. Disposable plastic aprons and gloves were not changed and hand-washing was not observed between these chores."

Mrs Walton said it was "no wonder" her mother contracted C difficile at the Royal Victoria early in March.

She added that during her mother's care there had been a "complete disregard to her dignity and wellbeing".

She wrote to SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop, who contacted NHS Lothian chief executive James Barber urging him to investigate the case and cleanliness at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie expressed her condolences to Mrs Wilson's family.

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health and health policy at NHS Lothian, also expressed her condolences and said: "NHS Lothian takes these issues very seriously and we investigate cases of this type thoroughly and promptly.

""It would be inappropriate to comment further (on this case] until that process is complete."