Edna Thompson, 85, was admitted to hospital with a rare eye condition - but died of severe dehydration and renal failure eight days later.
A pensioner died of thirst in hospital after a nurse allegedly refused to give her a drink of water - in case she wet the bed. Edna Thompson, 85, was admitted to Maidstone Hospital in Kent with suspected malignant glaucoma - a rare eye condition - after she started losing her sight. But within days, her health had deteriorated to the point that she could no longer eat or drink unassisted. Edna's family visited her in hospital and raised concerns with an agency nurse that she appeared to be suffering from dehydration. However, they were allegedly told it would be inconvenient if the pensioner had too much water - because staff would have to change her bedding more often. Edna, a former librarian from Harrietsham, subsequently suffered severe dehydration and renal failure. She passed away just eight days after her admission to hospital last September. Now, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust chief executive Glenn Douglas has admitted a catalogue of errors in the mother of three's care and has apologised to her family.
Read more: Teen who was hours from death after contracting gangrene in her appendix becomes international beauty queen. Mr Douglas said an investigation found that Edna's condition was exacerbated by the prescription of medication known to cause dehydration, including mannitol, used to lower eye pressure. It is usually prescribed for 48 hours - but was given to Edna five days in a row. Mr Douglas told the pensioner's family: "I would like to offer an unreserved apology for the errors. "Regrettably we cannot alter the sad outcome. "However, I can assure you we have recognised the need to ensure this type of event does not occur again." He added that a review was under way and new procedures had been introduced to prevent a similar problem. But Edna's family are not content with Mr Douglas's apology. The pensioner's daughter, Ann Brown, said: "I am just appalled. "If they had dealt with this better none of this would have happened and our mother could still be alive." Read more: 'Bully pulls disabled man out of a wheelchair' then stands back to watch 'a miracle'.
Edna's relatives say that by the time clinicians acted on their concerns, it was far too late to prevent their loved one's death.A trust spokesperson said in a statement: "We are very sorry that Mrs Thompson did not receive the high standards of care we would expect and we offer our deepest condolences. "We have implemented a number of improvements to our systems and processes to improve patient care." The trust said the agency nurse who allegedly refused to give Edna a drink of water was no longer assigned shifts. The pensioner leaves behind daughter Sue Ealding and son Mark Thompson, as well as daughter Ann. Edna's family have paid tribute to an 'amazing lady' who was an active member of the Women's Institute, Supper Club and her local church. Mark said: "I did not know that my first visit to her in hospital would also be the last time she would be awake or conscious enough for us to have a coherent conversation. "She did say, referring to both my sisters and myself, how grateful she was for everything we did. Read more: Woman conned her partner out of thousands by claiming she had cancer - and spent it on plastic surgery. "So now I'll say, as I wish I could have then, thank you for everything you have done for us."
Edna, who was widowed in 2012, suffered from multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis.She also had a live-in carer to help with cleaning and cooking.Mr Douglas's apology to the family comes the same week as a coroner has called for changes after a patient was allegedly denied a CT scan at Tunbridge Wells Hospital because it was the weekend. The patient subsequently died after being refused the test.
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