Family of a former midwife staged a protest against her discharge from hospital, claiming the move could kill her.
Isabella Keatings, 62, who has multiple sclerosis and dementia, has been deemed medically fit for discharge and was due to be released from Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, on Wednesday.
Her children, who are at loggerheads with NHS Fife over her care, insisted she must remain in a hospital setting to allow investigation into what they claim is a deterioration in her health.
The 62-year-old’s family, including son and legal guardian Martin, have previously alleged she has been denied surgery to remove a tumour in her bladder.
They say the 7cm mass NHS Fife told them is asymptomatic is bladder cancer which could spread and they fear recent weight loss may be a sign of the disease.
Her family want her transferred to a rehabilitation ward in the Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, instead of a care home, where they say she could be properly assessed.
Daughters of Isabella, also known as Isla, demonstrated at the entrance to the Victoria Hospital.
Kirstie Keatings said: “In the state she is in right now, if she is discharged it could mean her death.
“She has been losing weight rapidly over the last six weeks.”
She said her mother had been put on a 3,000-calorie diet to boost her weight and there was no way a home would be able to provide the level of care she needed.
Legal action is planned by Isabella’s family against NHS Fife, Kirstie said.
Kirstie said: “We are fighting for mum but we are also fighting for anyone else in mum’s position who doesn’t have someone to advocate for them.”
Isabella’s family have protested before to highlight her case and gathered 900 signatures on a petition calling for her to be given cancer treatment.
Medics said an operation to remove the tumour would be too risky due to Isabella’s condition.
However, her family claim surgeons have broken rank to tell them a more experienced team could perform the operation with no more risk than to any other patient.
NHS Fife medical director Chris McKenna said: “It is important to note that this is a particularly complex case and we are obliged to protect the confidentially of those in our care.
“As such, we are unable to comment on matters relating to individual patients.
“Our firm priority is that all patients receive care which is compassionate, clinically appropriate, ensures dignity at each stage of treatment, and delivers the best possible outcomes in any given circumstance.”
A nurse for 27 years, Isabella, of Dunfermline, was latterly a midwife a sister midwife at Borders General Hospital but gave up work as her MS, diagnosed in 1984, progressed.
