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Hospital didn’t ‘talk’

28/ 3/2007

TAMESIDE Hospital has apologised to a family for poor communication in the case of an OAP who died after of septicaemia.

William Andrew, 73, was admitted to Tameside Hospital on 9 August last year with an ulcer on his foot.

An inquest heard that he missed medication because nurses told him he could self-medicate.

Ward manager Alice Baxter said: "You sometimes get patients that can be a little manipulative and don't want to do things, so they expect nurses to do things for them."

The diabetic pensioner's foot was infected with MRSA on admission and an amputation was carried out on 17 August.

Son Nigel Andrew said he knew nothing about his dad missing his medication or meals until the day before he died. He said his dad had physically deteriorated in a matter of days, so much so that he had screamed in shock when he saw him.

He was not told the sudden change was because of the septicaemia, from which he died. Mrs Baxter agreed that communication with the family was poor.

Mr Pollard added: "It seems there is one major problem which is not exclusive to this ward or this hospital, it's a major problem of the NHS generally: that is communication.

"If only people had talked to each other more, you would at least have felt that you were being kept in the picture."

A hospital spokesman said: "Staff encountered difficulties in nursing the patient due to non-compliance with nursing care.

"Despite these difficulties, the standard of nursing care was good and cannot be linked in any way to Mr Andrew's death.

"The trust does, however, accept that communication between the nursing staff and Mr Andrew's family was inadequate and strenuous efforts have been made to improve communication with relatives since.

"The trust apologises for any distress caused."

Verdict: natural causes.