New complaints at scandal hospital
Fresh complaints of poor care at Stafford Hospital emerged today despite the introduction of a 107-point action plan.
The incidents are said to have happened in the past six weeks – after the plan to improve the hospital was announced.
Andrea Ecclestone of Stafford went into the hospital for a hysterectomy on May 13 and claims while she was recovering on the ward she had to give cold tea to a nearby patient who was crying out with thirst.
And Robert Harley of Heath Hayes, Cannock said he moved his mother Emily from the hospital to the Grange Residential Home on May 28 because he was frightened for her welfare.
The revelations come despite Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust's plan to improve the hospital.
The Healthcare Commission report indicating that more than 400 patients died than would have been expected over a three-year period at the hospital was published in March and led to a national outcry.
Mrs Ecclestone, a 45-year-old mother, said: "On one night a patient was admitted who was very distressed and had some form of dementia and she kept crying out all the time.
"She was in bed and unable to sit up properly, they had left tea by the side but she could not sit up to drink it. I got out of bed and said, 'I can't lift you up but I can give you some tea although it's cold'."
She claims she also saw a nurse crying on the ward because of the pressure and was told after being in hospital for three days that she should have had a blood transfusion immediately after surgery – she refused to have one, saying she wanted to get out as quickly as possible.
Mr Harley's 85-year-old mother was admitted with a broken wrist after suffering a fall in Hednesford on May 8.
After 15 days in the hospital she suffered another fall where she broke her ribs, he said she had been allowed to rip off her plaster on her wrist twice – which caused her to rebreak her wrist once, and when she left the hospital she was severely dehydrated.
Mr Harley said: "We moved her into the nursing home and she is in such a bad state I don't think she'll come out."
Dr Helen Moss, director of nursing and governance at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I'm extremely sorry that poor care has been experienced so recently and I would like to apologise to the families concerned.
"We have already recruited additional nurses and are currently interviewing still more. This does take time, as we want to get the best people with the right skills."
