'My 81-year-old dad was let down by the hospital'

Lynn Palmer wrote to Hillingdon Hospital in January to seek answers for the standard of care experienced by her 81-year-old father Patrick Clark, of Larch Crescent, Hayes.

He was admitted last December after a fall and was found to be suffering a broken hip; however his stay turned into a nightmare for both him and Ms Palmer.

She said: "He started out in Kennedy Ward where one of his hearing aids was lost by nurses. He was then transferred to another ward where the remaining one was also lost.

"The care was in stark contrast to the charter for the elderly displayed in the corridor.

"I am not just doing this for my dad but for all the people who go through experiences like this and never get told why."

Other accusations made by Ms Palmer against the hospital include a nurse sarcastically applauding Mr Clark as he tried to walk with a frame; her dad not being supervised when taking medication and problems with his diet

The biggest complaint involved a fall Mr Clark suffered in hospital, which despite causing a head wound and clear signs of concussion, did not lead to a scan and instead resulted in him being sent home.

Ms Palmer said: "The carers came round to put him to bed and found a cannula (the tube used to help with injections) left in his arm and wounds on his arm and knee which had not been dressed.

"He was in a very confused and distressed state and was far worse than when he had gone into hospital."

Mr Clark was visited by his GP and social services who both agreed he should not have been sent home and he was returned for further treatment.

Ms Palmer, who lives in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, was told to expect a response to her letter within 25 days but then received a letter from the complaints department requesting a further three weeks. This was due on March 25 but it was not until Saturday when it finally arrived.

Ms Palmer said: "They have apolo-gised for everything but there are no explanations for how all these things happened. I am angry, not just with the delay but in the total lack of answers.

"This negligence and lackadaisical attitude is simply unacceptable."

A hospital trust spokeswoman said: "We apologise for the delay in responding to Ms Palmer's complaint and that she was not happy with the response she received from the trust.

"In the trust's response to the complaint, all of Mrs Palmer's concerns were addressed, however she has been invited in to discuss the matter further if she is unhappy with the response in order to fully resolve her concerns."