'Neglect and abuse' at hospital

2001-08-15 13:28

Bridget Ducasse

Dundee - Allegations of neglect and abuse have been directed at Dundee Provincial Hospital by welfare workers, after a 76-year-old patient left the hospital with bed sores the "size of saucers" on every pressure point on his body.

"Hendrik Robberts was admitted to the hospital on April 24 without bedsores and nor was he bedridden. Four weeks later, when he was discharged, his condition was horrifying," said Henry Spencer, director of The Association for the Aged (Tafta).

A resident of the Dundee frail-aged home, Robberts - who died two months after his discharge - was admitted to the hospital to have an abscess lanced and drained.

His progress was carefully monitored by management at the frail-aged home, and while his abscess continued to heal during his stay, his general condition deteriorated.

"On examining Mr Robberts once he was discharged, we were totally shocked and disgusted at his condition, every pressure area had wounds that were black with slough, they were covered with either dressings or granuflex and had clearly not been treated," said Owen Britz, chairperson of the management committee of Dundee Aged Care.

Bedsores are caused by constant unequal pressure over bony prominences and in order to avoid their formation, immobile patients should be turned every two to four hours.

"These sores are almost entirely preventable and the major determinant is seldom how sick the patient is, but how good the care-giver is.

"Instead of a professional team on whom the vulnerable can depend, our elderly have to run the gauntlet of uncaring and seemingly lazy care-givers," said Spencer.

He added that families cannot be expected to look after their loved ones without the assistance of district nurses, whose services have been discontinued by most major hospitals.

According to Britz, a letter and photographs of Robberts' condition were sent to the hospital for a response.

"Their response said that they are not to blame. My staff and I can only keep asking the same question, and that is how can we keep sending our patients for regular treatment when they end up coming back to us even worse off," said Britz.

Department of Health spokeswoman Nonhle Sithole confirmed that a report has been obtained from the management of Dundee Hospital.

"The department has instituted an investigation of the matter as there are conflicting reports," said Sithole.

- The Witness