‘Our mum endured six weeks in hospital waiting for scan - when she was finally seen it was too late’

‘Our mum endured six weeks in hospital waiting for scan - when she was finally seen it was too late’ Sylvia Rowe, 87, has been remembered as a 'strong woman' who was repeatedly asking when she would be able to go home during her more stay at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford An elderly woman died from a hospital-acquired infection after enduring a six-week ward wait to receive an MRI scan after having been deemed a non-priority, her family has said. Sylvia Rowe was rushed to A&E at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford on February 7 with sudden pain in her legs and groin. The 87-year-old was given an X-ray the following day, but the results were inconclusive, and she was told she would need an MRI to investigate further. Her family say she was then left waiting on a ward for five and a half weeks before she finally had the scan, after not being deemed a priority, and she died in March after her health deteriorated. Sylvia died from an infective exacerbation of COPD (a respiratory disease) and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust are reviewing Mrs Rowe’s case through its formal complaints process, so could not comment or answer any specific questions. The day before the mum-of-six was taken to Darent Valley Hospital, her family say she was able to walk around her house in Cranford Road, Dartford, and could go up and down the stairs. Her son Ray Rowe added: “She was an elderly lady, and she did have her health problems, but she was not ill. There is no way she would have died.” But on February 7, Mrs Rowe started experiencing a sudden pain in her legs and groin and was taken to A&E, where she was given morphine, and the next day had an X-ray. The results were inconclusive, and the former cleaner at the Broadway Shopping Centre in Bexleyheath was told she would need an MRI to determine the cause of her pain. Mrs Rowe eventually had the scan five and a half weeks later, despite her children and husband of 70 years, Ron, continually asking nurses and doctors when she would be able to have it. During that time, the great-grandmother caught hospital-induced pneumonia, which led her health to deteriorate to the point she had difficulty swallowing, became nil by mouth, and suffered exacerbated COPD. Ray explained that the MRI showed his mum had nerve damage, and all that would have been offered was pain medication, but she died a few days later. He said: “Unfortunately, my mother succumbed to hospitalised pneumonia and passed away a shadow of the strong woman who entered that hospital. "We believed everything we were being told because it was a hospital. Everything they told us we took as gospel because that was what you do. "If she had not gone into the hospital, Mum would still be here. We are all at odds with that. With hindsight, we would have done everything differently." His sister, Linda Rowe, added that during her hospital stay, the nan was keen to get back home, saying: “She was always asking if she could go home, and we were told she could after her MRI. She had no dignity at the end, and she would not have liked that. She was a strong woman who said it as it was.” They said if they had known the outcome of the MRI earlier, they would have discharged their mother and explained that several home care plans were prepared by the hospital but never executed. She was also told she needed physiotherapy to keep her walking, but her family say she only had one session during the six weeks and was mostly left lying in her bed. The family also claim there were numerous incidents which they believe amounted to neglect while Mrs Rowe, who was originally from Bermondsey before moving to Dartford, was at the hospital. This included allegations of nurses not giving her medication until prompted and not checking that she had taken her pills, which were often found on the floor as they were put out of her reach. A formal complaint has been made to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) as they seek answers around their mum’s care and an apology from the hospital. In the complaint, Linda said the family has been left "heartbroken" and that the process has made the grieving process "unbearable". She said: “My dad, brothers and sisters are heartbroken enough with Mum’s passing; we cannot begin to move forward until we find out why our dear mum was treated so negligently and without empathy for her needs. "It was so wrong. It has made our grieving unbearable.” Her sister, Wendy Jeffery, added that they would like to see more training in place for staff to ensure that what they claim happened does not happen again. A spokeswoman for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said the matter is currently under review through the formal complaints process. They added: “A response will be provided directly to the complainant. As such, we are unable to provide any further comment or answer specific questions.” Mrs Rowe leaves behind her husband Ron, children Linda, Lesley, Wendy, Ray, Ronnie and Richard, and wider family including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Paying tribute, Ray said: “She would treat everyone like royalty. She was funny at times; she loved a game of cards, dogs, and loved having family around her.” Ron added: “She was the rock of the family.”