Son’s pain over mum’s death at Larkfield Unit

Peter Gillan, who claims he was not informed that his mum was critically ill, says he was not told quickly enough of what was happening on the night she slipped away in the Larkfield Unit.

He now plans to lodge an official complaint with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, where bosses dispute his version of events.

Mr Gillan’s elderly mum Jean’s mobility had became an issue last December and a GP advised that she should go into Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

She was subsequently transferred to the Larkfield Unit, but her son claims he was left in the dark about the full extent of her condition.

Peter said: “I was told there was nothing to worry about and they were only dealing with her mobility and that she would be back of out hospital January or February.

“Although she was 93, she could walk with her zimmer and I used to take her shopping and she held on to the trolley.”

Peter says that his mum went downhill after her admission to the Larkfield Unit.

She eventually passed away on March 14, without her son by her side.

He said: “She got pneumonia, a throat infection and an eye infection.

“She got more illnesses in the hospital than she would have had at home.

“She would have still been here if she hadn’t went into hospital.”

Peter lived with his mum in Grieve Road and was visiting her twice a day in 
hospital.

He says that after the departure of a doctor who’d assured him that his mum would be ok he struggled to get information.

The grieving son told the Tele that he had called several times to find out who was now dealing with her case and was advised the replacement doctor was on long-term sick leave.

He claims a full fortnight passed with no update on her condition before he was bluntly told that her mum was at the ‘end of the road’.

Peter said: “I was shocked.

“I learned that since she went into hospital that everything had stopped, they weren’t working on her mobility, she wasn’t getting any medication.

“I hadn’t been informed.

“No-one had discussed this with me or the rest of the family.

“They had basically taken her into hospital to die instead of nursing her back to health.”

Peter says he feels terrible that he was not with his mum when she died and 
believes that he was let down by the unit.

He said: “The day before she died I stayed with her until 9.30pm. 

“I had a funny feeling that things weren’t right, sat up at home until 2am and called the hospital and I asked how she was.

“I was told my mum had started to deteriorate.”

Peter rushed straight back to the hospital but it was too late.

He said: “I got to reception and she had passed away.

“That was at 2.20am.

“Why didn’t they call me sooner?

“I would have liked to have been there with her.

“They said she died peacefully.

“I felt really terrible.”

Peter says he received a further shock when his mum’s death certificate stated she had died of kidney failure.

He alleges that no-one informed him that Jean had kidney problems.

Mr Gillan said: “If she was critically ill, I should have been told.

“There has been a lack of information from the start.”

The Telegraph contacted NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and put Mr Gillan’s 
comments to them.

They gave their condolences but said that his account of what had happened was not correct.

Management have now offered to meet with Mr Gillan to discuss the situation.

A spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with this patient’s family at this very difficult and sad time but we dispute the claims made which are incorrect.

“Both doctors and nursing staff from the Larkfield Unit on the Inverclyde Royal Hospital campus met and spoke on numerous occasions with family members to discuss and agree with them the care plan for their mother.

“The family were also given unlimited access to the ward outwith visiting hours.

 “We have received no complaint about the treatment of this patient however our staff would be more than happy to meet with the family to address any concerns they may have.”