A grandmother was found drenched in her own urine on two occasions after being abandoned on an A&E trolley for 24 hours, her family claims.
Bridget's daughter-in-law discovered her "curled up in a ball soaked in urine" when she was allowed to visit her in hospital, she said.
A few days later the 72-year-old ended up in the same position when she was wheeled out of Bury’s Fairfield General A&E without any underwear on and in a thin nightie, it is claimed.
Her family said she had wet herself again but a doctor told her she needed to go home as there were no beds available, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Stays in hospital are a familiar experience for mum-of-four Bridget, of Bury, near Manchester, who is known as Bridie to her loved ones.
She suffers with a COPD diagnosis and does not yet qualify for oxygen treatment at home.
When Bridie’s oxygen levels drop and her breathing becomes difficult, which happens intermittently, Bridie has had to go into hospital by ambulance for a few days of treatment.
But last month, Bridie was hit with two severe bouts of breathlessness and reductions in her oxygen levels.
The grandmother was rushed to Bury’s Fairfield General A&E to be seen by medics, but family members who care for Bridie say they were left horrified by her treatment in both instances.
During the first incident, starting October 10, Bridie’s family claim she spent 36 hours in A&E, over 24 of which she spent "left on a trolley".
During the three days she remained in hospital, Bridie's family brought her some fresh clothes.
Although visiting has been limited at the hospital due to coronavirus restrictions, Bridie’s daughter-in-law says a nurse allowed her "to sneak into a side room near A&E" where Bridie was being treated.
Daughter-in-law, Stacey, said: "When I went in she was curled up in a ball soaked in urine. All the nurse said was they were short staffed."
Stacey claims she had to change Bridie into fresh clothes herself.
Bridie was discharged, only to suffer a similar oxygen dip last week. She was taken back to Fairfield by ambulance on October 27.
But, despite one doctor saying she needed to remain in hospital to have checks, another doctor told her she would need to go home "because there wasn't a bed available", claim the frustrated family.
This time, Bridie’s sister was called to collect her from hospital on October 28, where the family claim she was brought out "in a wheelchair by a porter in a hospital gown and thin nightie, without any underwear on, again soaked in her own urine".
Bridie, who wishes for her surname not to be shared, says she was left feeling "degraded" by the shocking experiences and is demanding answers from hospital bosses.
"I couldn't fault the medical team whatsoever, they were great. It was the care after," Bridie told the Manchester Evening News.
"Being taken out of hospital in a nightgown over a wet hospital gown is very shameful.
"My daughter-in-law had to change me. It made me feel very degraded.
"It's like you're just a number and they've just left you there.
"I am very nervous about going back there. There was nobody around to help. I was shouting out for the toilet, but nobody was listening to me.
"There should be more care for people after the doctor has finished with them. There should be more nursing staff."
Her daughter-in-law Stacey added: “Bridie had been on a hospital trolley for 24 hours.
"They had managed to get her in a side room. And when I went inside, she was curled up in a ball, absolutely drenched in urine.
“I asked the nurse why she had been left like that, the nurse said ‘well, there’s no staff.’
“While I was there, I changed my mother-in-law, got her dressed, managed to get a brew down her. Then I had to leave.
“She was in A&E for a total of 36 hours, and then she was moved onto a ward.
“We were fuming. Once is bad enough, but you think ‘yeah, they’re short staffed’, the nurse did let me in and I did change Bridie myself."
Only, just over two weeks later, the family say they were faced with the same nightmarish scenario.
"Bridie’s oxygen levels were through the floor, so we had to call the ambulance," continued Stacey.
“They took her to Fairfield on Wednesday night (October 27). She was there for 24 hours.
“The doctor initially said she needed to stay in until her oxygen levels stabilised, but then another doctor said there were no beds and that they would need to send her home.
“They called [Bridie’s sister] and when she got there, staff were wheeling Bridie out of A&E in a hospital gown, with a little nightie over the top, no knickers on.
“She was p*** wet-through with urine, absolutely drenched. Bridie was crying, she was absolutely humiliated, she said it was awful.
“We’re fuming. To send her out like that, in a hospital gown with no knickers on, soaked in her own urine - even though one of the doctors has said she should be staying in, just because there’s no beds. It’s just awful."
During the second stay at A&E, the family claims that Bridie says "no staff asked if she needed the toilet".
At one point, the 72-year-old remembered shouting "is anyone there" as she had diarrhoea and "desperately" needed the toilet.
"She ended up just going in the bed," says Stacey. "Eventually someone did come and clean her up, Bridie said it was the worst night ever."
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The trust which runs Fairfield, the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) NHS Foundation Trust, responded to the family's claims, saying that patients "receive regular checks from nursing teams to ensure their personal cares are being met". These checks would be "documented in the patient's notes".
Tyrone Roberts, Director of Nursing and Chief Officer at Fairfield General Hospital, said: “We are really sorry to hear that [Bridie] and her family were not satisfied with the care they received.
"Our nursing teams work hard to ensure patients receive safe and personal care, including a formal process of regular checks on patients in our care, and they will be saddened to hear that [Bridie’s] family feel this was not their loved one’s experience on this occasion.
"We are keen to understand and learn more about the matters the family have raised. We would welcome a discussion with them to hear their concerns directly and so we can explain any elements of her care and experience that they need further clarity on.”
