Widow's anger at 'dirty' hospital

Mrs Cawley complained about hygiene in 1996

The widow of a man who was diagnosed with MRSA at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in 1996 has said she is appalled conditions have not improved.

Dorothy Cawley, from Tunbridge Wells, complained about the hospital's hygiene eight years ago when her husband was there and she received an apology.

Mrs Cawley is upset a BBC undercover report has shown cleanliness standards are still poor at the hospital.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust has said it is improving conditions.

Mrs Cawley's husband Joseph, 74, who was a military standard bearer for 20 years, was diagnosed with MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) during his stay at the Kent and Sussex in 1996.

The expose showed clinical waste piling up in corridors

He was discharged and died within weeks in a nursing home after his condition deteriorated.

Ms Cawley complained about the hygiene standards on her husband's ward and after he had been discharged the hospital apologised.

Mrs Cawley said: "My husband's been gone eight years and still they have done nothing about it.

"I don't want money - I want the conditions at the Kent and Sussex to be changed.

"That's all I ask so no one goes through the trauma my daughters and I went through."

It is unclear how Mr Cawley caught the bug and how much it contributed to his death, but Mrs Cawley said the hygiene at the hospital was poor then and should be better now.

'Cleaning policies reinforced'

The BBC South East Today undercover report, which prompted Mrs Cawley to speak out, showed clinical waste bins piling up in corridors and a build up of dirt under sterile medical equipment.

Used needles were left in unlocked "sharps bins" on window ledges and mouldy food was found in a fridge used by patients.

The hospital is investigating the findings and has suspended three members of staff from the in-house cleaning service.

Managers said they had already reinforced the cleaning policies to staff and will improve standards by Christmas.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust has said it is doing all it can to improve the situation.