NHS boss says sorry 22 times for death of elderly man by hospital superbug

In the six-page letter John Rostill, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, repeatedly said how sorry he was for his hospital's failure to care properly for Vic Jones, who died from Clostridium difficile.

Mr Jones died a day before his 90th birthday in May from the infection, which he contracted in Worcestershire Royal Hospital while being treated for pneumonia.

Hospital superbugs such as C. difficile and MRSA cause dozens of deaths in hospitals each year

His daughter Susan Davies, 57, wrote to Mr Rostill: 'There were faeces on his bandages and on the walls. Every day there were signs of neglect. I had to constantly complain to get even the most basic care.'

She said he became dehydrated and drinking water was placed beyond his reach.

Mrs Davies added that the hospital ran out of his medicine and nurses did not order prescription drinks for Mr Jones, who served with the Royal Army Service Corps in the Far East in World War Two.

She claimed she was not told there was C. diff on the ward, that nurses did not wear gloves after he was infected, and that he had trouble getting food and a commode.

She said doctors were sometimes unavailable and nurses turned their backs on her father when he wanted them.

Mr Rostill launched an investigation and wrote Mrs Davies an 'unreserved apology'.

He added: 'I am very sorry that aspects of his care fell below the standard you both quite rightly expected.'

Mrs Davies said: 'It is absolutely shameful that an elderly man who fought for this country's freedoms can be allowed to die in this undignified way.'