"Outstanding response undone by lack of compassionate care"

My father was taken to A&E after suffering a stroke. What started as an incredible example of world-class emergency care quickly turned into one of the most distressing and infuriating experiences our family has ever had to go through.

On arrival, he was seen immediately. Triage was rapid, the stroke team were with him in minutes, and he was taken for a CT scan within 15 minutes. That part of his care was outstanding — efficient, focused, and life-saving. We were incredibly grateful.

But after the scan, everything went downhill — fast.

Despite having just suffered a stroke, and despite having a chronic back condition with degenerating discs and a spinal fracture, he was left to fend for himself. He was allowed to go to the toilet unassisted. Unsurprisingly, he fell in the toilet. No patient — especially one with known mobility issues and spinal damage — should be put in that situation.

Later, he was left waiting for a nurse to help him to the bathroom, and no one came. He ended up soiling himself. Not once, but more than once. He was absolutely humiliated. This wasn’t just a failure in care — this was a failure in basic human dignity.

And to make matters worse, he was then left sitting in a chair for nearly 72 hours. Not moved to a proper bed. Not provided adequate support or comfort, despite his fractured spine and severe back pain. For three days, he sat there, vulnerable, in pain, and ignored. How is that acceptable in any hospital — let alone for a stroke patient with a spinal injury?

Then, as if all of that wasn’t enough, he was discharged far too early, with no proper aftercare or support in place. We were left to manage everything at home with no plan, no guidance, and no follow-up. It felt like the system just wanted him out — regardless of the consequences.

I want to acknowledge the emergency team — they saved his life, and we’re thankful for their incredible speed and professionalism. But that’s where the praise ends.

My father was treated without compassion, without dignity, and without even the most basic attention to his needs. A man with a spinal fracture, degenerative disc disease, and a fresh stroke was left to fall, soil himself, and sit in a chair for 72 hours. That’s not care.

I’m writing this because families shouldn’t have to watch their loved ones go through this. This wasn’t just poor care. I find it was a complete system failure.