My Mum passed away just before Christmas. She was only in hospital 3 days and the care was appalling. They said she was critical and wouldn't allow me to get a private ambulance to take her home but they didn't go into her room in the 6 hours I was away (the only time during the whole 3 days because I needed to sort out the kids). They asked on the second day (having left her freezing cold and drooling Weetabix which an incompetent support worker had been shovelling into her mouth when I slipped away to grab some sleep for a few hours) if they could put her onto end of life care as she had double pneumonia (no surprise there then) and I agreed as long as someone competent in end of life care was available to help us through. Not one of the agency night nurses knew anything about end of life care and they were asking me to make medical decisions. I asked for a doctor 5 times and was told no-one was available. In the end they gave her a dose of diamorphine large enough to kill a horse (a frail lady who weighed 8 stone and hadn't eaten for 3 days!!!). Absolutely disgraceful. My husband died 18 months ago and the hospital made some pretty awful errors and I wrote a very constructive letter but they ignored the lot. This time I am determined that the hospital needs to change the way it deals with older patients (some of the care on the ward was so unacceptable - I have seen far better care in so called third world countries) and humiliating for patients. I'm going to try to go the legal route to make them sit up but I don't know where to start. I've kept notes and I know people can't give recommendations on here but if anyone has any advice I would be really grateful. We looked after my Ma at home for 4 years and in 3 nights the hospital destroyed everything and couldn't even provide a 'good' death which is all I was asking for.