A FAMILY of an elderly woman who allegedly received poor care at two hospitals has been awarded thousands of pounds in out-of-court settlements with two health trusts.
Phyllis Foster, 86, of Thrifts Mead, Theydon Bois, was admitted to Whipps Cross Hospital, in December 2006, with heart and kidney problems.
Her family say she sustained pressure sores to her feet while in the Leytonstone hospital and was given the wrong dose of the drug Warfarin.
A month later she was sent home from hospital without her own belongings or commode, it is claimed.
Following a short stay at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, she was transferred to St Margaret's Hospital in Epping.
The family say hospital staff failed to record a number of falls and sent her home without her walking frame and other belongings.
She was readmitted two days after she was discharged but died two days later.
Mrs Foster's son Robert, of Romford, enlisted the help of solicitors to try and get compensation from both Whipps Cross University Hospital trust and NHS West Essex (the primary care trust).
And the trusts have now reached a settlement believed to be worth thousands of pounds.
Mr Foster said: “While my mother was clearly unwell I was unable to accept that she should have been treated in this appalling way.
“I felt I had to speak out and make a stand on her behalf and to try and ensure that the hospitals concerned learnt lessons so that other elderly patients would not be as badly treated as my mother was’.
Mr Foster's solicitor, David Kerry, of clinical negligence lawyers Attwaters, said: “It is a sad indictment of our society that in their hour of need the elderly, such as Mrs Foster, are being let down”.
An NHS West Essex spokesman said: “We apologise for any failings in relation to the care Mrs Foster received during her time at St Margaret's and her discharge home.
"Since these events, we have moved into our new £13.4 million purpose-built community hospital at Epping.
“The improved environment makes it easier for patients to be monitored by nursing staff.”
A Whipps Cross spokeswoman confirmed the trust has recently “settled” the case concerning Mrs Foster but declined to comment further.
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