A BOLTON woman who dedicated her life to the NHS died in a hospital 35 miles away because there was no bed nearer home.

The family of Pat Trimble of Kearsley say she gave her whole life to the NHS - but when she needed it most it let her down.

Pat, 69, died on December 27 in Halifax, 35 miles away on the other side of the Pennines.

The former cleaner at Hope and Ladywell Hospitals, who worked later as a WRVS volunteer, was taken to Hope on December 17 with suspected pneumonia.

But chronic organ failure was later diagnosed.

After waiting several hours on a hospital trolley while staff searched for a bed, Pat was finally taken up to intensive care on December 18.

Her devastated son Paul, who lives in London, said: "Although there was a bed available and the equipment to care for her, there wasn't the staff and so my mother was transferred to a hospital where there was the staff and a bed.

"This meant myself, my father who is 71 and my sister had to make the journey from Kearsley to Halifax every day, until the day my mother died on December 27. "I find it incredible that a woman who worked tirelessly for the NHS was treated in this way. No-one is saying she would have lived had a bed been found at Hope, but my mother would have expected to be treated at the hospital to which she gave so much of her own time

"My mother believed in the NHS, she praised it and was proud to be associated with it. When she retired at 60 she couldn't let it go and so became a WRVS volunteer.

"Yet when she needed care, after giving it freely, she was let down. All those years of service appeared to be ignored and I simply can't believe she was treated in this way," said Paul.

Although Paul and his family have nothing but praise for the treatment their mother received at Halifax, they are appalled that they were forced to make a 70-mile round trip to visit her during her final days.

Pat was buried on Monday but Paul says his anger remains. He has already written to MP Brian Iddon and the Chief Executive of Hope Hospital, demanding answers.

Mr Bill Sang, Chief Executive of Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, told the BEN: "We were saddened to learn of this lady's death and we are very sorry that circumstances led to her transfer to an intensive care bed at Halifax.

"This would have added to her distress and caused extra problems for her family. We offer them our condolences at this sad time."

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