"Why did my Mum die in hospital?"

My mum went into hospital in May 08 with a bruised foot. The first ward she was on, the staff were brilliant and caring. The next ward she was moved to; not so caring, except for one nurse who, when she was on duty, was great. The next ward she was moved to seemed as though they couldn't be bothered. They all sat in an office chatting for ages, I was trying to find someone, as a lady who they had sat up kept falling head forward into her meal, which she was unable to eat on her own. They eventually came and checked on her about 3/4 of an hour later, said hello to her and plumped her pillow and left her again!

Mum was there for 6 weeks, until she died of septicemia! aged 77. If we were not there she was not given water, she was in hospital but was very dehydrated. When we, well my brother (as I felt no one was listening to me), complained mum was put on a drip, this was done twice during her stay. I just don't understand how someone goes into hospital, where you hope they will be looked after, and dies! Great example of care was when my mother was being sick and had no sick bowl. The nurse i found said she'll have to wait a minute!? I said I could get the bowl myself, if they would tell me where they were. Instead she shouted another nurse to get a bowl, after she had finished what she was doing (I point out, at this time the first nurse appeared to be not busy).