"I also have questions that need answering"

I was surprised and astounded to read the concern submitted by Lawyer 1 last week because we brought very similar concerns to the hosptal’s attention in May this year and by sharing our information we had hoped that similar recurrences would be prevented.

Members of my family have been communicating with Weston General Hospital during the course of 2009 following the death of my relative, a formidable and highly intelligent 88 year old lady, admitted to the hospital as a precaution but sadly died 10 days after admission.

To date Weston General Hospital has not been able to explain the circumstances surrounding her death and what she died of (we have in fact received conflicting stories) and this confusion is compounded by shortcomings and omissions of recordings in her Medical Notes.

A complaint was been submitted to the Chief Executive over 2 months ago, which has not to date been registered or handled as a formal complaint and the Chief Executive has demonstrated unwillingness to communicate with us.

Some of our concerns are regarding:

• Timely prescription and administration of antibiotics, delayed and failed tests

• shortcomings in the monitoring of fluid input/output, food eaten, insulin taken, and mobility

• Inconclusive diagnosis from chest x-ray but later used as explanation (Our relative's final chest x-ray was only reviewed for the 1st time some 3 months after her death when asked to do so by relatives)

• Patient noted as being confused (the lady concerned was still completing cryptic crossword puzzles and making and receiving phone calls at that time)

• Patient notes asked for but many missing

• Some of the Staff we dealt with were unfriendly and unapproachable to both patient and family. We feel the patient was not reassured when could have been.

• Patient continually questioned about DNR by staff when asked not to do so by family

• Attempt to dismiss (not reported) and not advise family of an incident with an O2 point

• Advised that aospital acquired Pneumonia was present by Dr and in notes upon patient's death, but later denied and not recorded further.

There are many other concerns also including:

• The explanation given "The patient was not wearing her own nightdress when she died one was available but out of reach, because they have to wear the ones the hospital provide so that we can check for bed sores." (The patient had been sleeping in the chair not on the bed)

• The patient was left by an open window at one point and was cold