Woman attacks care of mother by the NHS

Betty West was admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary after breaking her left hip in December last year.

But her daughter Julie Farmer, whose shocking account of her mother’s treatment is published today in the Yorkshire Post, claims there were a series of failings in her care on ward 23 where she spent the final month of her life.

Despite being successfully treated for her hip, Mrs Farmer claims her mother did not receive basic nursing care, developed serious sores which left her in “agony” and was not helped with eating or drinking, leaving her dehydrated.

She claims she was asked to adminster drugs to her mother, of Guiseley, near Leeds, and was so concerned at her plight she spent time with her outside visiting hours. Her records were not filled in properly and an emergency buzzer was left out of reach.

“I wanted to take my mum away from this hellhole of a hospital to somewhere safe but I just didn’t know what to do or who to turn to,” said Mrs Farmer, of Baildon, near Bradford.

“I wouldn’t have left my dogs in some of the conditions I had to leave my mum.

“It’s not going to bring her back but if it stops other things happening to others, it will have done some good.

“Some people didn’t really get visitors – they have nobody to stand up saying ‘This isn’t good enough’.”

A hospital spokesman said: “We take all complaints extremely seriously and we will now carry out a full and thorough investigation.

“Any lessons arising from this complaint will be used to improve care to our elderly patients.”

n Read Julie Farmer’s full account: Page 9