1 December 2006
MAN WHO FELL ILL IN HOSPITAL TOLD: DIAL 999
By Jan Disley

GREAT grandfather Derek Ogley was doubled up in pain in a hospital waiting room - but was told if he wanted to get help he had to dial 999.

Derek, 70, had just been discharged from a ward when he took a turn for the worse - so technically he wasn't in hospital.

His daughter Julie, 46, said: "I went to ask the nurses to get a doctor but they said they couldn't as it wasn't hospital procedure because he'd already been discharged.

"They said I would have to call 999 to get an ambulance to collect him and take him round to accident and emergency."

Not willing to wait, she drove her father the three-minute journey to A&E where he was eventually diagnosed with pancreatitis.

He was put on morphine for the pain and was given oxygen and a drip.

And he remained in hospital for another two weeks before finally being discharged this week. Julie and Derek's wife Gwen, 69, were told later that his condition could have been life-threatening.

Julie added: "I'm so angry that they wouldn't get a doctor to see him in the first place.

"I'm absolutely disgusted. I can't believe that this could happen when people are supposed to get good care in hospital.

"The bureaucrats who make these procedures don't actually work in the hospitals.

"It seems that these stupid rules come before people."

Derek, from Glossop, Derbyshire, was in the day room of Tameside General Hospital in Ashton, near Manchester when he suddenly developed severe stomach pains.

He was waiting to be picked up after spending four days in a ward with chest problems.

Back home, Derek revealed he had complained he was in pain before he was discharged.

"The sister just gave me two Paracetamol. The staff were changing over and they asked me to go to the day-room because they wanted my bed.

"I told the doctor I was in agony and it was getting worse.

"He just said if it didn't get better to go and see my GP.

"I was given another two Paracetamol. I told them something needed doing desperately and if they insisted on sending me home, I would just get round to casualty and book myself in again.

"To hell with ridiculous hospital rules. The patient must come first."

A hospital spokesperson said: "It is the case that, if someone has been officially discharged from hospital, then they would have to either go to A&E or be referred by their own GP to be re-admitted.

"They can't just be taken back to the ward because it would play havoc with the bed system.