Family tells of 'appalling' care at Dorset County Hospital

7:30am Thursday 15th October 2009

By Rene Gerryts

They hit out after Kathleen Jordan, aged 80, was admitted to the hospital suffering from uncontrollable diarrhoea and sudden confusion.

Her daughter Ann Lambert listed a catalogue of complaints following the treatment given to her ‘traumatised’ mother. She said:

* Commodes were repeatedly left covered with excrement as were wet wipes and her nightgown.

Mrs Lambert, who is a teacher at St Mary’s Primary School in Bridport, is demanding an apology and explanation.

She said: “I was always a staunch supporter of the NHS before my mother was left traumatised by her hospital stay.

“I feel very angry and disappointed. The treatment was appalling. I do have experience of hospitals and this kind of shabby treatment is not consistent throughout the service.”

“It is certainly no way to treat an 80-year-old whose monetary contribution to the nation’s health service has been consistent since the age of 14.”

Mrs Jordan, who lives at an Abbeyfield sheltered housing complex in Beaminster, was admitted for tests on doctor’s orders. Mrs Lambert said that tests were carried out but no results ever revealed.

She said that her mother was frequently left covered in her own excrement, as were commodes, packets of wipes and her nightgowns.

She added: “On the third day of my mother’s stay I arrived to find a very full commode.

“Not only that but the commode arms were covered in faeces as was the seat and the backrest.

“I realise it was my mother who made the mess but surely the staff realise that she is in hospital because she is ill and can’t manage?

“I cleaned the commode myself but became aware without proper cleaning materials germs would be spread so I asked for help. Again I was given the excuse ‘not my patient’.

“I also discovered the packet of wipes provided for my mother to clean herself were also covered in dried on faeces.”

Mrs Lambert says that on another visit she took her mother to the toilet only to discover she was soiled on her back, with her nightdress and dressing gown both sodden with urine. Mrs Lambert said that her mother had been left very sore and traumatised.

Mrs Jordan was due to be discharged but was kept in hospital after her daughter objected.

Mrs Lambert said: “We would have been back to square one. Except she is in worse shape than when she went into hospital.

“My mother has been in hospital 10 days. During that time she had had neither bath nor shower.

“She is so weak and frail she cannot clean herself after using the toilet, yet she has been declared fit to return to the situation that could not sustain her 10 days ago.”

Mrs Lambert has written to West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin and the hospital’s social work department and its trustees with her complaint.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Hospital said: “We are very concerned to hear about Mrs Jordan’s experiences.

“We would urge Mrs Lambert to contact us directly about her mother’s care so we can properly investigate this.

“The comfort and dignity of our patients and infection prevention and control is taken very seriously in this hospital.”