HE was a war hero with a distinguished past.
But Huddersfield man George Robertshaw died alone in his home at the age of 104 after what his family claim was inadequate care by medical staff.
Now their case has been highlighted by the health charity The Patients Association as a sad example of where health and hospital trusts are failing.
And the Association has called on hospital trusts to improve their services still further to avoid a repeat of Mr Robertshaw’s case.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of The Patients Association, said: “The sad conclusion of this report is that still far too many patients are being shockingly let down by the NHS every day.
“These appalling and tragic cases serve to highlight the devastating consequences when poor practice is left unchallenged and unchanged. Behind each one are many more unheard voices.
“Whilst there is a lot to be proud of about the NHS, including the overwhelming majority of staff who are skilled and hard-working, these cases are a tragic wake-up call for those in Westminster as well as on hospital wards”.
Mr Robertshaw, who saw active service in the North African campaigns of the Second World War, died at home after being “wrongly” discharged from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
His family claim he was not assessed by a doctor.
Despite repeated attempts by the carers and his GP, they could not get Mr Robertshaw re-admitted to the hospital.
Mr Robertshaw had been admitted to the Infirmary in the early hours of February 16 with a blocked bowel.
His family say he was not seen by a doctor. Nurses cleared his bowels and he was discharged that morning.
He was taken home in an ambulance and seen later by carers.
The carers were unhappy at his condition but despite repeated attempts, by the carers and Mr Robertshaw’s GP, they could not get him re-admitted and he died later that day.
A relative said: “ “Nobody seemed to want to know!”
One of his children told the Association: “Had the seriousness of my father’s condition been correctly diagnosed by a doctor on his arrival and admittance to the hospital, the outcome may well have been different.
“As it was, he was wrongly sent home, and nobody at the hospital was prepared to re-admit this seriously ill, 104 year old man.
“As a consequence, he died in his own home alone, under what conditions we will never know.
“My father was a strong independent person who served his country when it needed him, and yet the very systems he fought for, let him down when he needed them most. He deserved better.”
A spokesman for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust said: “Mr Robertshaw’s story is extremely sad and we offer our condolences to his family.
“We are disappointed and sorry they feel that Mr Robertshaw and the family were unsupported and that they perceive this was a poor discharge, which no-one was prepared to remedy. This is not the image of our services that we are proud to read”.
