Blog 13: Woman, 93, left severely dehydrated in hospital despite complaints from daughter

An elderly woman died in a hospital severely dehydrated, even after her daughter had made several complaints. The woman was taking to the hospital after severe vomiting and was in a "copious pain." Her daughter was a nurse lecturer and when she visited she noticed her mother had not been hooked up to a drip bag to make sure she would not become dehydrated. When she addressed a nurse with her concerns she was "dismissed" and three days later her mother died from dehydration. After later returning and realizing the drip had still not been connected she once again complained, with several doctors over hearing her. The drip was not adequately set up until later during the night shift. The NMC council agreed that the daughter was right to be upset with the treatment and it was reported that the daughter was told her mother was fine, and still was not given the intravenous drip. There has been a lot of cases concerning the treatment provided for patients in hospitals. I got to see first hand part of the treatment when I went to pick up my father after his knee surgery, and the nurse pushed him in a wheel chair with one hand as he check his check messages on his phone in his other hand. Mistreatment can occur at any hospital. It is an expectation that when you or a family member is in the hospital that the care received should be the best. More awareness of the problem could easily be the solution.