War Veteran died due to NHS Failings

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War Veteran, John Farrow was admitted to the Airedale NHS Trust Hospital with pains in his joints, his GP expected him to come home.

John was put in a bed on a surgical ward; he should have been on an Elderly Ward or a Medical Ward. The attitude of the staff at Airedale NHS Hosptial was such that this gentleman, who served in the 2nd World War, was treated like an unwelcome guest.

Consultants changed every week and the nursing staff didn’t know who was responsible. It took twelve days for John's family to meet a Consultant who told them he was dimenting. It turned out that he had been over-prescribed sedatives! He was in so much pain he couldn’t lift a cup and wasn’t helped.
The Rheumatologist was on holiday for a week. John's family were told he needed to drink more. John needed a catheter fitting - this was done a week later. John's kidneys packed up. Nobody helped him with food and he became malnourished.
The referral to the dietician was 'lost' for nearly two weeks and then not followed up!

Norma says "My father had pains in his joints and the GP couldn't understand what the pain was and his bloods were all wrong. He wanted him admitted to Airedale NHS Hospital find out what the pain was and also because he was afraid that he may become dehydrated if he stayed at home. It was far more complicated than rheumatism, he had gouty arthritis in all of his joints. Extremely painfull. Airedale NHS Hospital didn't take any notice of the GP's referral letter and therefore didn't monitor his fluid balance. Hence not realising he was retaining urine which irretreivably damaged his already damaged kidneys. The Rheumatologist was involved because he had to give my Dad injections into his joints for the gout. This couldn't be done for over a fortnight because the Geriatrician didn't make the referral for a week and when he did the Rheumatologist had gone on holiday for a week. So during this wasted fortnight my dad just deteriorated because nobody, fed, measured his fluids, looked after his diabetes and over prescribed drugs so he didn't want to wake up and eat of drink".

After John Farrow died, his daughter, Norma Scott complained about the poor care that he had received at Airedale NHS Hospital Trust. She was fobbed off by the Hospital and took her complaint to the Healthcare Commission.

The case was so bad that the Healthcare Commission upheld the complaint on 18 counts. The Airedale NHS Hospital Trust drew up an action plan but "nobody monitor's these 'plan's" says Norma and John's family had to trust the 'Trust' to make the recommended improvements.

John's daughter then took the case to the Ombudsman, the final stage in the NHS Complaints procedure, as set out by the NHS.
The Ombudsman, after keeping her waiting nearly another year, said that she should have gone through another route to the Ombudsman!

Her M.P. Ann Cryer said that it was ONLY his daughter that was complaining about this 'highly rated hospital'.

"The NHS complaints system has changed since I made my complaint and it is even worse than what I experienced, we now have to rely on the offending 'Trust' to accept that our complaint's are valid and then put them right", said Norma Scott, John's daughter.

"So the Result – No justice. MPs – No use. Ministers – Watching their backs".
In the words of Norma!

Click here to read the Yorkshire Post article about the NHS Complaints System and how it has failed John Farrow, War Veteran!

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