Son blasts hospital over dying father's care

Those are the words of a devastated police officer who has claimed his father suffered an appalling ordeal at the hands of Walsall Manor Hospital staff before he passed away aged 68 in his arms after a battle with cancer.

Among Aaron Richardson's damning allegations are that the hospital called on the day of his dad Victor's funeral to ask why he had not turned up for treatment.

The 38-year-old from Bloxwich, who has served with West Midlands Police for 16 years, has also claimed Victor was left covered in his own mess, was left with blood spurting from his arm after a cannula was pulled out, and that the family were wrongly told the cancer was not terminal.

Aaron told the Express & Star: "Dad was a quiet man, easy-going, he was always there for everybody and would drop everything to help someone.

"He did not like being the centre of attention. And he would not have liked all of this now. Even with how badly he was treated he said 'just leave it'.

"But I think other people should know what went on in that hospital. It's disgraceful."

Victor, from Birchills, was a postman of more than 20 years and even went to work at the Manor in the laundry department before retiring.

The father-of-two to Aaron and his sister Penny Fellows, aged 48, grandfather-of-six and great-grandfather to three, was rushed to A&E on Christmas Day suffering with Atrial Fibrillation - an irregular or very fast heartbeat - and later admitted on to Ward 17 which specialises in respiratory medicine.

Earlier that month at St Peter's Surgery Victor was given the devastating diagnoses that he had terminal cancer.

But Aaron claims doctors at the Manor were aware of the severity of his condition after a scan weeks earlier and failed to inform them.

He also alleges prior to Victor's admission to hospital a district nurse told them a 'mistake' had been made and he could recover from his cancer which was only in the 'early stages'.

Aaron said they were all in the dark until January 2 when they were given the shock news he had just two days to live.

Either side of that Victor went through 'horrendous' experiences on the ward according to his son. Firstly on New Year's Day Aaron went to visit his father where to his horror he saw him covered in his own faeces, including on his face, while he had also defecated on the floor.

Aaron claimed when he reported it to a nurse her reply was that Victor was 'putting it on'.

Then on January 3 he returned from getting a drink to his father crying out for help whilst sitting on a commode having had a cannula 'ripped' from his arm with blood 'spurting two to three feet out' on to the floor.

Aaron has raised further discrepancies about Victor's care in his final days after he was discharged to his own address and given palliative care before passing away on Monday, January 9.

While there were further complications in obtaining the death certificate. The family's nightmare saga culminated on February 8, the day of Victor's funeral at Streetly Crematorium, when Aaron claimed the hospital rang him up to question why he had not attended a chemotherapy session.

"You tell people and they think you are making it up," Aaron said.

He added: "I am not saying he could have survived, I know he was very poorly. He may have got a few more weeks or months but who knows.

"But in the end all he had left was his dignity and he was deprived of that.

"You would not treat a dying rat like they treated my father.

"This has devastated us all and ruined our lives."

In an initial report into Victor's care, seen by the Express & Star, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust states there was 'no record' of him being covered in faeces while the nurse who dealt with the cannula denied leaving him bleeding, although the incident would be investigated further.

However the report issues an apology for failing to 'communicate effectively' with the family as well as a 'lack of high standard of care'.

Medical director Amir Khan, added: “We would like to once again offer our condolences to Mr Richardson’s family on their loss.

“We are aware that Mr Richardson’s son is not happy with the Trust’s initial investigation findings and we are in the process of arranging a meeting with him which is the most appropriate environment to discuss his concerns.”