"My mother who died in September 2008"

My mother aged 79 was admitted to Whiston hospital in Merseyside in mid-2008 with suspected pnuemonia. She had been perfectly fine before she fell ill.

She was very confused and upset, it was typical of the other stories I have read regarding her treatment, she was left to go to the lavatory by herself and fell cutting her leg. She was left in soiled clothing and bedding. She became very weak and started to suffer from chronic diarrhoea. We were then told they suspected C Difficile, but this was never confirmed.

When we asked any questions, we were fobbed off, the nurses said she had been eating but we knew for a fact she had not, same old story food left out of reach etc.

She was discharged after approximately a week but was far too weak to look after herself and went to stay with her son. She had lost weight and was clearly very poorly. After a few days she had to be re-admitted to hospital still suffering terrrible chronic diarrhoea. She was put in a room by herself which was freezing cold. She was terribly upset and said she had called the nurses on the buzzer to go to the toilet or for a drink and was routinely ignored.

I visited her one day and she was struggling to get back in bed from a commode and was scrambling about on the bed. It was very upsetting and seeing your once proud and independent parent in those demeaning circumstances heartbreaking.

We were finally told she needed surgery as there was 'something going on in her gut' they said the usual she has had a good innings etc. She had the surgery, but never regained conciousness and died the next day.

The most upsetting thing (and I have never spoken about it because I have no proof) was the moment just before she was taken into surgery, she was wailing and trying to speak, they just wheeled her out. I found a piece of blue paper on the floor which had fallen from her file the doctor was holding who took her to surgery (I dont know whether he was the surgeon or anaethetist). The paper listed my mothers ailments, starting with pnuemonia, CPOD, C Difficile etc. I only got a few seconds to scan it, but in capitals at the bottom it said in capital letters one word: 'KNACKERED'. This was witnessed by other members of the family, except one who didn't read it but ran after the trolley carrying our mother and handed it back thinking it was important to her surgery. We thought he had read it and ran after the doctor to confront him. Hence us not having evidence of this incident.

I am furious about it to this day. But would just like the person who wrote this disgusting word, to know we saw it and hope they are proud of themselves.