Tag Archives: hospital

Cancer patient dies alone in hotel room after hospital sends him there to free up beds

Wife finds body when she goes to visit

 

  • Hospital routinely sends chemotherapy patients to hotel between treatments
  • Panic alarms had not been installed in hotel rooms for two years as they ‘weren’t used’

By Jenny Hope

Last updated at 2:11 AM on 25th February 2012

 

A cancer patient died alone after being sent to a hotel to recuperate from chemotherapy treatment on the NHS.

Ian Curtis, 39, died 200 yards away from University College Hospital, London, which rents out hotel rooms for patients who would otherwise stay in overnight.

It is the second death of a chemotherapy patient using the scheme since it was introduced in 2004.

‘Catastrophic infection’: Ian Curtis, 39, died in a hotel 200 yards away from University College Hospital, London, where his wife Tracy found his body

The hospital stopped installing panic alarms in rooms at the four-star Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel last year because patients did not use them.

Mr Curtis was overwhelmed by a sudden ‘catastrophic infection’ that prevented him making a phone call for help.

End the Care Crisis: Lobby 6th March 2012 in Westminster

 

Response to Select Committee care report

 

The Care & Support Alliance has responded to a report from the cross-party Health Select Committee, into social care:

I”The Health Select Committee’s report adds weight to growing evidence from the 60 charities of the Care & Support Alliance that social care funding pressures are leading to a diminished quality of life for disabled adults and older people and increased demand for NHS services.

MPs from all parties share our view with that cutting back on care is not only risking the dignity and independence of older and disabled people, but is ultimately robbing Peter to pay Paul – with the NHS picking up the knock on costs of poor quality care provision, namely distressing and avoidable hospital admissions for the most vulnerable members of society. This cross-party report clearly states that current funding levels are ‘not sufficient to maintain adequate levels of services’ and at a time when we need extra funding to meet rapidly growing demand, Directors of Social Services say that social care budgets fell by £1 billion last year.

The Health Bill – ‘outright Opposition’

NHS plans: Unions move to ‘outright opposition’

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

 The health bill is currently working its way through Parliament

The unions representing nurses and midwives have joined others in stating their “outright opposition” to the government’s NHS plans in England.

The Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives had expressed concerns in the past, but said they were willing to work with ministers.

However, now they want the entire bill covering the changes to be dropped.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the unions wanted to “have a go” at government about “pay and pensions”.