HILLINGDON Hospital is investigating claims an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s was found to be covered in spit and in great distress after she was dropped off at her care home by a hospital transport vehicle.
Staff at the Burroughs Care Home in West Drayton say Edna Russell, aged 93, had saliva and mucus in her hair and was ‘very distressed’ when they took her off Hillingdon Hospital transport’s van late on Thursday night last week.
She had been admitted earlier that day to have stitches after falling and banging her head. She was brought home in a vehicle with other passengers.
Mrs Russell’s son, Malcolm, said he was ‘horrified’ by his mum’s alleged mistreatment. “My mum was assaulted,” he said.
The care home has complained to the hospital, and night-time staff who retrieved Mrs Russell said she was travelling with two ‘prisoners’, one of whom was handcuffed, and a guard.
Hillingdon Hospital says its initial investigation of logs has discovered there was one patient on a stretcher with two immigration service guards.
Shane DeGaris, chief executive of the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said it would be reviewing why Mrs Russell was discharged from the hospital so late.
“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Mrs Russell and her family for the distress and upset that this incident has caused.
“The wider allegations being made are extremely serious and I have ordered an urgent investigation to find out exactly what happened.”
