Ill patient at Stafford Hospital assaulted in his bed

The inquiry into appalling standards at Stafford Hospital has heard of a patient being assaulted in his bed and others left without adequate care for days.

Tom Kark QC, counsel to the inquiry, recounted a number of horrifying stories.

He told of stroke victim Ronald Chell, who was assaulted by a fellow patient who climbed onto his bed and tried to strangle him.

He said cleaners had to attend to patients who had been left to wet themselves.

Medication was often late and Mr Chell's wife June said she felt the nurses resented her being there.

Mr Kark said: "The hospital refused to provide any information about the assault."

Mr Kark also told of of Christine Dalziel, whose husband George was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

Mr Kark said after an operation he was left in agony after an epidural meant to relieve his pain was wrongly sited. He said: "He was left for days wearing the same blood-stained pyjamas."

Mr Kark said after his death the family found Mr Dalziel in an "horrific" state with a tube in his mouth, tape on his throat and his eyes wide open. He added: "No one was able to tell Mrs Dalziel when hehad died."

He also told of an Alzheimer's sufferer who was discharged at 3.30am in January wearing only a nightie and with a tube still in her arm.

Read more in today's Express & Star.