"My mother's care at James Paget"

My mother spent her last few weeks on ward 1, which is now ward 15.

Initally she was on ward 17, which was ok for her, but she had to be transfered to ward 1. I believe this ward has a mixture of caring and not so caring staff.

On the day she died, in September 2010, the ward was being transfered to ward 15, and vice versa. Chaos is the word I would use.

My mother couldn't swallow and yet paracetamol was left on the bedside table, untouched. When I arrived on the ward, I asked about some pain relief, but because of the transfer to ward 15, I was told that all the syringes were on the other ward.

The nurse said my mother wasn't in pain, just uncomfortable. But my mother had PVD, which is very painful, and kidney failure, leg ulcers and was going black.

She was broken hearted when the consultant bluntly informed her that amputation was her only option, and basically gave up. My sister had to organise some oxygen for her on the Saturday because she was having trouble breathing.