Poor patient care sparks apology

Mr Gregory had cancer of the oesophagus

Hospital bosses in Manchester have apologised for the poor standard of care given to a cancer patient in the days before his death.

Celia Gregory, 64, claimed her husband Ian, 72, was left unwashed, without drink and in pain from unbandaged burns at Wythenshawe Hospital in July.

She said the quality of nursing in his final three days was "pathetic."

The University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust has "sincerely" apologised about his treatment.

The hospital has now introduced improvements in care for terminally ill patients after reviewing the case.

He put his arms out and said 'get me out of here, take me home' Celia Gregory

Mrs Gregory, who worked as a nurse at the hospital for 25 years, said her husband was admitted suffering the final stages of cancer of the oesophagus.

She became so concerned by his neglect at the hospital that she drew up a rota with her daughter to make sure one of them was always at his bedside.

"I was appalled and disgusted that nurses could be just so pathetic," she said.

"I did not see any caring at all.

"The saddest thing for me was that on the day he died he put his arms out and said 'get me out of here, take me home'."

A spokesman for the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust said: "We express our sincere apologies that in the last days of Mr Gregory's life some elements of the care he received fell short of standards.

"We have introduced improvements in the way we care for terminally ill patients."