"Failure of service left my elderly cousin without treatment"

My cousin is an elderly severely disabled man who was due to have an oral operation today. Because I live in Devon, about 80 miles from Liskeard where he lives, it was impossible for me to get him to the hospital by 7.30 am. and it was agreed that he could come in the night before. This was eventually confirmed to him and to me on the telephone by your Admissions Manager.

On arrival at the ward we were informed that Admissions management had failed to inform the ward of this. As there was no bed available he was offered to sleep on the bench or in his wheelchair in the waiting area. Because of his disabled condition he was unable to do this and the staff decided to cancel the operation.

Not only is this an insulting way of dealing with people but the inconvenience and financial expense to pensioners living on basic incomes is enormous.

At his pre-admission interview we heard that the admissions management could sometimes be inefficient but no one could expect it to be as bad as this.