Linda Biggs from Roydon with her disabled son Matthew

Norfolk hospital slammed after disabled man unfed for four days

By Dominic bareham
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
7:26 PM

The mother of a disabled boy has slammed a Norfolk hospital for leaving him to survive on water for four days after his feed tube came out and could not be re-inserted any earlier.

Linda Biggs, 50, of Tottington Lane, Roydon, called Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on February 28 after her 20-year-old son Matthew’s feeding tube through his stomach came out when he vomited and she needed staff at the hospital’s gastroenterology department to put the tube back in.

However, she was told there were no staff available to carry out the procedure because of holidays and he would have to wait four days for the treatment, by which time he had become “lethargic and weak” due to not being fed.

Mrs Biggs said: “They rang me back and said we can’t do it today and I said ‘you are joking, he can’t live on water’. Obviously, he was very lethargic and weak. The hospital said he had got to have water for five days and that was just ridiculous.”

She said she expected the tube to be re-inserted “within 24 hours” of it coming out and said when Matthew was younger the paediatric teams would re-insert the tube as soon as possible or the next day, but the adult teams did not appear to be as efficient.

Matthew, who has a brother James, 17, was born with the condition agenisis, which meant part of his brain had not developed properly and he can not walk or eat properly and has to be fed through the tube.

He receives round-the-clock care from his family and carers provided by the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People, who take him out on trips.

Mrs Biggs, who also lives with husband Steven, 52, said the tube had a tendency to come loose whenever Matthew sneezed or vomited.

A hospital spokesman said: “We are investigating a complaint from the family about the timeliness of Matthew’s care and we are very sorry for any delay he experienced during his stay with us.”

8 comments

Shame on the staff and management at the N & N over the absolutely disgusting treatment of this boy.

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Freddie Morris

Saturday, March 23, 2013
Shame on you Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

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Peter Watson

Friday, March 22, 2013
Did I miss them, the comments from our regional MPs calling for the N&NUH trust board members to consider their positon? Lions led by donkeys, etc. Probably the board have implemented a covert policy of downgrading care for the disabled, after all their masters in the ConDem govt are leading the way when it comes to attacking the disabled.

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Police Commissioner ???

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Taken together with the very worrying lack of support for disabled people who are subjected to hate crime,Is it any wonder that Tanni-Grey Thompson has said"disabled people are being targetted".True,Tanni.even in hospital.

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Peter Watson

Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Norwich Care Plan, be very scared of going into hospitals if you have no one to look in.

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nrg

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Hope someone is held accountable for this and then let them survive on water for 4 days.

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Lynda

Thursday, March 21, 2013
I believe this is a clear breach of Article 3, Human Rights Act 1998. "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Seek legal advice.

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L.Deene

Thursday, March 21, 2013
DIsgraceful. Things are going from bad to worse at the N & N.

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samphirelover

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Norfolk hospital slammed after disabled man unfed for four days

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