NHS apologises over patient letter

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Tom Milner, 76, was not given his prescribed pain-relieving morphine for terminal leukaemia in his last two days, his family say.

They claim he was left in agony and lay in his own urine and blood at the NHS Palliative Care Ward at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.

Mr Milner's case was highlighted earlier this week by the Patients Association in a report on the treatment of the elderly by NHS nurses.

His daughter, Janet Brooks, of Emsworth, Hampshire, emailed the National Patients Safety Agency outlining her concerns about his treatment.

Mrs Brooks, 54, said: "They responded with 'Dear Tom'.

"It's an example of the careless and shambolic attitude by the NHS towards my father and our family. We wanted his last days to be as peaceful and dignified as possible but at one point he was twisting and turning, laying in blood and urine. There was no compassion."

Mr Milner died on the palliative care ward, where his family claim some staff refused to top up his pain relief.

A spokesman for the National Patients Safety Agency said: "The NPSA is aware that error was made when responding to an email enquiry from the relative of a deceased patient.

"As soon as this was identified, we contacted the person involved and apologised for any distress caused. The NPSA has also since reviewed its systems to look at how it can ensure this does not happen again."