An 85-year-old woman with pneumonia lay bare legged in Ninewells Hospital complaining of being cold because staff were unable to supply pyjamas or a blanket.
Her worried son says he was told there were no pyjamas or blankets available because it was the weekend and the items had not come back from the laundry.
Mohammed Shafiq said his elderly mother, Hamida Ali, was admitted to Ninewells three weeks ago because of concerns about her blood pressure and difficulties breathing.
He claimed that far from getting the care she needed, she was left repeatedly to wet herself because nurses did not respond quickly enough to the buzzer calling for help.
He was so concerned about the lack of care he opted to stay at the hospital with his mother.
“I asked if they could leave a commode beside her bed and that would make it quicker, but they said they couldn’t,” said Mr Shafiq.
Mrs Ali has a number of long-term conditions, but was diagnosed with pneumonia following admission to Ninewells. Doctors also told her son his mother was suffering the early stages of Alzheimer’s and may have suffered a mini stroke.
“She needed care, but ward five was a nightmare,” said Mr Shafiq. “I was staying overnight with her because I didn’t have any faith in them. They did not bother with her, even when I was there.
“One day my mother was lying in bed with nothing on her legs. She was very cold. She has poor circulation and lying with bare legs was not going to help her. At home she has the electric blanket on before she goes to bed and two hot water bottles, even in summer.
“I spoke to a nurse about my mother being bare legged and she said it was the weekend and the laundry was not back. She said she was sorry there were no blankets either.”
Mr Shafiq said he was with his mother during the night when she was “screaming for food” but was told she would have to wait until breakfast time. “It was about three in the morning and breakfast was not until 7.30am,” he said.
An NHS spokesperson said, “We haven’t received any formal complaint from this family but if they wish to discuss their concerns further they can contact the complaints and advice team. We would urge anyone who has any concerns about their care while in hospital to speak to the nurse in charge immediately.”