A HOSPITAL has apologised to the family of a man who was found sitting in his own faeces after his case was highlighted in a national report into poor patient care.
George Frederick Taylor was admitted to Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, right, suffering from a urinary tract infection and a chest infection in August.
His experiences have been included in the Patients Association’s report into poor care in England’s hospitals.
In the report We’ve Been Listening, Have You Been Learning?, Mr Taylor’s daughter Gaynor Marshall said: “As you can imagine, my mother was horrified when she turned up in hospital to discover Dad sat beside his bed, quite literally sitting in his own faeces.
“In general during Dad’s time in hospital the nursing staff treated him as an object that they had to treat rather than a human being who should be included in his care and given the dignity that he deserves.”
She said on one occasion her dad was sat in a chair by his bed and needed the toilet.
“He asked a nurse to assist him, but was told that she was too busy, and that it would be easier for her if Dad relieved his bowels in the chair. She promised to clean it up later,” she said.
Mrs Marshall explained that her mother was horrified and initially thought her husband “must have been confused and must have misheard the instruction by the nurse”.
She says the nurse confirmed to her mother that he had heard her correctly and that she was too busy to assist him.
The nurse did not clean up the mess as promised and her mother had to do so, Mrs Marshall said.
“For most of his time on the ward, Dad, who previously always looked after his appearance and hygiene, was not given a wash or a shave.
“Over time the smell around his bed became overpowering. At one point a member of our family had to leave my father’s bedside because they could not cope with the smell,” she added.
Mrs Marshall said on occasion urine soaked pyjamas were found stuffed in the bottom on a cupboard.
The family also feel that insulin levels for the insulin dependent diabetic were not monitored properly.
They also believe that he was discharged sooner than he should have been. Mr Taylor was later admitted to University College Hospital as an emergency patient. His condition improved within days of being admitted to University College Hospital.
The hospital says it has arranged for senior members of the trust to meet with the family and a representative of the Patients’ Association.
They are also hoping to identify the member of staff responsible and condemn the treatment as “unacceptable” and say it “will not be tolerated”.
Cheshunt Mercury
