Fear for pensioner in hospital

A Shropshire hospital was accused today of "destroying" the spirit of a 95-year-old woman who suffered a dislocated hip while recovering from surgery and has contracted the MRSA superbug.Mabel Robinson was admitted to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital on May 23 after a fall. She remains a patient there, but her family and a friend say they are planning to make a complaint to hospital bosses.

Her daughter Carole and a friend Carol Hughes, who also has power of attorney for Mrs Robinson, are planning to make a formal complaint to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.

Tonight Mrs Robinson's plight will be highlighted on BBC2's Newsnight as part of a series on the 60th anniversary of the NHS.

Mrs Robinson, a resident of Bennett House in Woodside, Telford, underwent surgery on a broken hip the day after being admitted.

According to Miss Robinson and Mrs Hughes, both of Leegomery, she appeared to making an excellent recovery, although staff had said that they had "caught her leg" while getting her out of bed.

Because her mobility was so good, it was said she could soon return to her home.

But on the fourth day the pair found Mrs Robinson crying.

She claimed that she had been left on a commode for an hour and when she had complained she had been "thrown" on a bed and left uncovered.

"She was really distressed, saying the pain was worse. And Mabel doesn't cry easily," added Mrs Hughes.

The following day Mrs Robinson asked for a commode but was told by a staff nurse that she would have to walk to the toilet.

"We watched helpless as she went to the toilet in agony," said Mrs Hughes.

An X-ray revealed that she had suffered a dislocation of the hip and Mrs Robinson then had to under go a second operation.

On another visit, the women were told that Mrs Robinson had contracted MRSA. The infection was in a wound on the leg that staff had said they "caught".

Miss Robinson also said her mother had never been incontinent but had been wetting her bed. On one occasion her dentures had not been cleaned for a week.

"I know that she is going to die sometime but hopefully not in the Princess Royal where I think she has been mistreated," said Miss Robinson.

"She was a woman who was so spirited, who was always smiling. I think they have destroyed her spirit."

Mrs Hughes added: "I would like the hospital to get back to basics. They need to understand that people are people, not numbers. I feel so sorry for all those who haven't got a voice, someone to speak up for them."

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris