But it can't be the hospital's fault ... they were probably just overworked and understaffed.
Woman dies in 'hell hospital' after going in with just a cough
EXCLUSIVE by Martyn Halle and Adrian Butler 1/08/2010
The Mirror
A mother whose daughter died at a scandal-hit hospital has attacked the care she received – as it was claimed THREE other disabled youngsters have died there needlessly.
Lisa Sharpe, 21, who had severe learning and physical problems, went into Basildon Hospital, Essex, with a cough. She could not eat so she had a feeding tube inserted.
But staff did not spot she had pneumonia and mum Mary, 55, of Billericay, says she was told by a consultant: “I don’t know what’s happened but she’s got two hours to live.”
Mary claims Lisa was in horrific pain, but was given only paracetamol to help.
She called on the hospital trust’s chief executive Alan Whittle to resign, adding: “Our lives have been ripped apart by this.
"There are no words to describe what it’s like to watch your child die in such a terrible way.”
Lisa’s case emerged after the hospital – where a Health Service watchdog reported that 400 people had died needlessly in 2008 – was fined £50,000 for letting quadriplegic Kyle Flak, 20, choke to death after his head got stuck in bed rails.
There are also questions over the death of Tina Papalabropoulos, 23, who died after she was admitted for a cough which became pneumonia, and the death of a fourth disabled youngster.
Beverley Dawkins, of disability charity Mencap, said: “It has taken four tragic deaths for Basildon Hospital to start taking this seriously.
"The treatment Kyle, Tina and Lisa received at the hospital was woefully inadequate and demonstrates a catalogue of failures.”
A Basildon Hospital spokesman said: “We have apologised to the three families for getting it wrong.
“We believe we are making improvements. One of the things we have done is appoint a disabilities nurse to help in the care of these patients.”
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