OAPs are 'scared stiff' of going into hospital

From the archive, first published Thursday 16th Feb 2006.

A CREWE and Nantwich pensioners' group has said that elderly people are 'scared stiff' of going into Leighton Hospital following attacks on the centre's quality of care.

The hospital came under fire after the Healthcare Commission discovered 'unacceptable levels of care' for older patients.

The independent watchdog identified 'serious lapses' in a probe following the conviction in 2004 of ward sister Barbara Salisbury for attempting to kill two elderly patients.

Now the Crewe and District branch of the Northern Pensioners Association has written to South Cheshire MP Gwyneth Dunwoody calling for the re-introduction of matrons at the hospital.

Secretary Hugh Emerson said: "The recent report on the abuse of elderly patients in Leighton Hospital was discussed with several members reporting that although the worst excesses may have been removed, things were still far from satisfactory.

"The main problems it was felt arose from failure of management at all levels and there were calls for the re-introduction of matrons.

"It is felt that there is no-one in overall control of services on the wards, ensuring that each department is doing its job.

"While the hospital may say that they have solved the problems, the anecdotal evidence coming from elderly people who have actually been patients says that this is not the case.

"We have got a situation now where elderly people are scared stiff of going into hospital.

"Imagine if this had been a children's hospital - it would have been all over the national news. But because it is the elderly it gets underplayed.

"Add to this the massive hikes in county council charges for day and home care, and it becomes clear how the elderly and vulnerable people of the community are being treated."

The group is now organising a contingent to send to the Pensioners' Parliament in Blackpool in May.

The next meeting will be at Crewe Library on February 28 at 2pm.

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