"Disrespectful end of life"

Anything else?

I'm writing in respect of my father in Law who was admitted to your hospital on Monday 4th March. He was admitted as an emergency and later transferred to Pearson Ward.

The care he received was very poor. As a family we struggled to gain any information as to his treatment or medication he was on. This was requested on several occasions by my husband and myself. I was told to see the nurse who was on duty in the afternoon. This extremely difficult when I work 9am - 5pm so could only visit in the evenings. Even his name was incorrect above his bed.

On one occasion on Friday 8th March I visited with my daughter. The curtains were around my father in law's bed. I enquired at the nurses station why and after much shouting to others who were drinking their tea was told he was on a bed pan. After 10 minutes I decided to take a look at my father in law. He was in agony as the bed pan was digging in. I appreciate he was a 92 year old frail man who probably didn't have long to live, however, no-one was actually checking on him. My daughter alerted the staff to say her Grandad was in pain and was told someone would come and check (whilst she drank her tea)! A rude and disrespectful attitude.

In the early hours on Sunday 17th March my father in law passed away. Unfortunately things got worse. Neither my husband nor his brother were informed. Instead the police went to an ex family member, who divorced my brother-in-law some 30 years ago. Apparently the sister on duty on Pearson Ward knew her. We were consequently told the hospital didn't have next of kin details. Apparently this was due to the emergency admission, however contact details were given to the ambulance drivers. Why did no-one ask the family on their daily visits if this was the case? This was most upsetting for us all as you can imagine.

Quite frankly we're disgusted with the sequence of events that led to the final passing of my father in law. He had always dreaded going into the hospital at Calow as it had a reputation that 'no-one ever came out'. How true this was for him. An extremely sad and undignified end to a full and otherwise healthy life.