The family of a vulnerable pensioner who was left on a hospital trolley for 30 hours without ID before being attacked by a patient have still to receive assurances from NHS Fife that it will never happen to anyone else.
Andrew Sanaghan (84), a retired painter and decorator who has dementia, was taken by ambulance to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy after suffering head injuries in a fall at his care home.
His family have now made an official complaint about his “degrading” experiences at the hospital, which includes: a claim he spent up to 30 hours on a trolley and was left in an admissions unit with no identification so that staff had no idea who he was or why he was there; despite having no identification, he was given antibiotics without staff knowing if he was allergic to the medication; all his belongings were dumped on top of his frail legs so when his daughter eventually found him, he was distressed and crying as he thought he was paralysed because he could not move them; he was attacked by another patient after being left in the same ward bay as him, despite the patient having already assaulted a young doctor earlier the same day; his possessions were lost so that when he was finally discharged his family had to wrap him in a surgical gown and blankets, with his son’s socks on his feet, to take him home.
Mr Sanaghan’s son Andrew (57), of Kirkcaldy, told The Courier that the family’s discussions with NHS Fife are continuing but they remain worried for other elderly people who ended up in hospital where no one could see them.
Mr Sanaghan, who was well-known in Kirkcaldy for running a successful painting and decorating business, moved with his wife Louise (84) to Jenny Gray House in Lochgelly after both were diagnosed with dementia.
The family say the care there has been superb.
Andrew said that when his father suffered a fall in the evening of December 19, he was taken to A&E at Victoria.
He was eventually transferred to an admissions unit at about 7am the next day.
But when Mr Sanaghan’s daughter Marina went to visit him she was told he wasn’t there.
After frantically trying to find out where he had gone, a receptionist eventually allowed Marina into the unit to see if he was there and she found him on a trolley, with no name tag or ID.
When she told a staff nurse his name, she was told: “Oh, so that’s who he is.”
After moving his belongings off her distressed father’s legs, she pointed out that he had no buzzer to call for help, to which the response was: “I hope he can shout loud.”
The attacks happened later.
Operational Division nursing director Caroline Inwood, said: “I am very concerned to read of the care Mr Sanaghan’s family has described.
“Their concerns are very serious and an investigation into these concerns is already under way.
“We are in touch with the family and will share the findings with them as soon as possible.
“We are committed to doing our best for every patient in our care and would reassure those who use the hospital that where shortfalls are identified we always take action to improve the care we provide.”
malexander@thecourier.co.uk