'Staff made Barbara's last moments special'

FULL of praise for the health system . . . David Ashworth with a picture of Barbara and Dotty, the family dog

A FAMILY sung the praises of NHS hospital staff who supported their beloved relative in her final days.

David Ashworth and his step-daughter Gillian Cronan hailed NHS staff as "absolutely marvellous" after a positive care experience.

The care provision for their partner and mum Barbara England, 80, was second-to-none unlike the negative news reports they said they heard about the health service.

Barbara was rushed into A&E at the Royal Oldham Hospital with an aortic aneurysm. A bulge in her aorta - the body's main artery - was bleeding and she did not have long to live.

She had gone to Shaw Village practice for an ECG test to check the rhythm of her heart on Monday, February 6.

But while she was being seen by a nurse she had "a funny turn" and was rushed to A&E.

Barbara's partner of 34 years David, 69, said: "They took her straight to the hospital. There was no messing around. She went to the health centre at 10.40am and was on her way to hospital at 11.10am. Hardly any time had elapsed."

Daughter Gillian, 59, added: "She went through the check-in system and was admitted immediately. There was no backing up on a trolley as you sometimes hear on the news. She went straight into a comfortable room and they were prompt in contacting us."

Gillian, from New Hey, received a call at 1pm from her step-dad David, of Oak Street, Shaw, to say her mum was not expected to survive long.

A consultant was with Barbara as the family looked on and hospital staff kept the family updated. A scan quickly revealed that the aneurysm was bleeding out.

Staff gave Barbara pain relief, dressed her in a gown and made her comfortable.

A tea party was provided so the family could enjoy tea and biscuits together and the chaplain-on-call stayed with the family and gave Barbara a blessing.

David said: "There was nothing they could do because she was so poorly, but the nurses and staff were absolutely marvellous."

The 69-year-old added: "She was at the top of the list for a bed on another ward and was moved to a small eight-bed ward as soon as one became available on the Tuesday.

Gillian said: "She didn't look poorly, she was comfortable in a bed. They even gave her a chippy tea although sadly she couldn't eat it."

Newspapers were also handed to the family and Barbara was checked on regularly. Gillian said: "We could not complain at all about the care and treatment she received.

"On the Wednesday Macmillan staff arrived to give us leaflets about how death approached and how her breathing would change."

Barbara died at 2.45pm on Wednesday, February 8. A funeral took place last Tuesday. David said: "Every little detail was accounted for. We knew it was coming. The care was excellent."

A spokesman for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees the Royal Oldham Hospital, said: "We would like to express our condolences to all of Barbara's relatives and friends at this sad time. It is always nice to receive praise from a patient's family and this has been passed on to the staff and team who looked after Barbara so well and ensured that she received the highest standard of care in her last days of life."