Pilgrim Hospital inquiry into care of dying patient

Brian Smith had a chronic heart condition and pneumonia when he died at Pilgrim Hospital

A Lincolnshire hospital has started an investigation into claims a dying patient was neglected by medical staff.

Brian Smith, 73, who had a chronic heart condition then pneumonia, died at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital in January.

The hospital has agreed to meet his widow Margaret over allegations he was denied basic nursing care in his final hours.

Measures aimed at upholding the dignity of patients have recently been introduced at the county's hospitals.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Smith, from Chapel St Leonards, said: "There was nothing there that was monitoring him, because they expected him to die.

"So, you don't nurse people that are going to die.

"That's how I feel now - that there was a reason, if they couldn't save him, they would just leave him - and they did."

'Dignity pledge'

The United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust's director of nursing and patient services Sylvia Knight said: "All I can say at this point is to express my sincere condolences to Mrs Smith for the loss of her late husband Brian.

"The Trust is currently investigating the concerns that she's raised with us and I will be personally meeting with Mrs Smith to share the outcome of our investigation as soon as that's practical for both of us.

"I think it would be really difficult to say that any hospital will not experience variability in care and practice.

"The whole point of investigating and responding to a complaint and concern is to make sure that we learn from those and that we do our level best to make sure the next patient doesn't experience the same things."

She added that from this week every patient being admitted to a Lincolnshire hospital would be given a "dignity pledge", which promises to respect them and treat them with courtesy and compassion.