"Catalogue Of Appalling Treatment My Mother Recieved"

In October 2015 my mother was taken into A+E at Aintree University Hospital.

She had become diabetic and had low potassium.

When being moved on and off a portable toilet a chunk of skin was torn from her bottom.

When moved onto a ward they thought this was a bed sore. (and photographed it )

The ward mislaid her notes, she was given potassium in levels that caused her to blow up like a balloon and her leg to split.

One night a nurse gave mum the wrong medication.

Three patients from her room told me that a patient had refused laxatives and they witnessed the nurse giving them to my mother.

My mother, who had a previous bad reaction to them, told me she had been sleeping and did not realise what she had been given until it was too late.

My sister visited early morning - Our Mother was sat in diarrhoea and had used a box of tissues to put between her and it

I visited early evening - again she was sat in diarrhoea with an open cut on her bottom.

She now had a urinary tract infection.

I obviously complained to doctors and management who said they would investigate.

What actually happened was the nurse concerned was questioned ( but not the witnesses )

I was told that laxatives did not appear on my mothers medical records and that this confirmed the nurses statement that she did not give them to my mother.

Then THE WORST My mother (aged 83 with part of her lung previously removed) told me that in the middle of the night, when she was sleeping, she was physically intimidated and threatened by a nurse in order that she would not say anything.

Two patients woke up whilst this was happening and witnessed my mum asking her to stop very frightened.

One patient told me she was so upset by what she witnessed it made her cry.

A third patient (C) told me she woke up to hear the nurse snap at patient who was crying. Afterwards patient (C) stood by mums bed and held her hand to try and comfort her.

The crying patient answered the nurse and told her that she was crying because my mother was a lovely person, that she (the nurse) was clearly distressing her. She did not get a reply from the nurse.

This Patient told me the nurse came back when Mum's bed needed to be changed. The nurse said she would come back with the other nurse but it was left so long that they got out of bed to go and remind them (she found them sat at the desk chatting)

All three patients told me it was the same nurse that had given my mother laxatives.

A member of the senior management team told me she would take patient statements and gave me her word that she would make sure this nurse would not be allowed onto the same ward as my mother again.

I stopped overnight with my mother who became agitated when medication was being issued.

I asked the nurse issuing the medications for her name It was the same nurse.

The nurse was not suspended for an investigation and as far as I am aware she still works in the same hospital.

My Mother died.

Sepsis (ongoing septicaemia/blood poisoning) was listed on her death certificate.

Septicaemia is down to poor hygiene and nursing procedures (It only takes one nurse to undo the good of others)

Before her death I had asked why my mother was being given blood and was told by the person giving it that it is just to give her some extra help fighting the infection. I asked what infection the consultant had said her results were clear.

They became reluctant to talk and went away quickly.

I asked the consultant they told me she did not have an infection that they don't give blood for this reason.

I asked what was the reason and they said just to give her a boost.

We had not been told she had septicaemia. The week of her death both her doctor and consultant told us she would be coming home after some intensive physio.

Two days before she died we had to argue to get antibiotics for her when she was clammy and becoming confused. ( Mentally she was normally sharp as a pin. )

The doctor gave them to her saying he was only giving them as a precaution as he didn't want anything to hold her up from being moved onto the intensive physio ward.

I have sent written complaints to the Hospital and received, in my opinion, written denials for six months.

I now have copies of my Mothers medical records: -

There is a computer print out which we think proves laxatives were given.

Records for the relevant dates are missing.

Photograph of injury (caused by A+E) is missing

As far I understand, the hospital took one patient statement only (10 days after the event).