Mother's hospital treatment 'was just appalling'

Florence Weston was treated for a fractured hip at Russells Hall Hospital in the West Midlands but suffered "appalling care" according to her son Mike Weston, and died after three operations.

Mrs Weston's operation was repeatedly delayed in December 2007 and she was left without food or drink prior to surgery.

Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust said its policy was now to give hip surgery within 24 hours of admission.

A new study from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death has said that hospitals must improve their care of elderly patients undergoing surgery.

Pain management, nutrition and delays were all highlighted as problems by experts and overall, just over a third of patients were judged to have got good treatment.

The review body analysed the care given to 820 people aged over 80 who died within 30 days of having surgery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.