A DEVASTATED wife has criticised the end-of-life care provided to her husband at Colchester General Hospital.

Eira Cursons said husband Derek was treated like an inconvenience while he lay dying in the emergency assessment unit at the hospital in Turner Road.

She claims he was transferred five times and left without oxygen during some of the 48 hours before he died.

She applauded other aspects of his care, including the work of paramedics, cardiologists and the care on Dedham ward, but said there was not enough space in the Emergency Assesment Unit (EAU).

On December 8, Mr Cursons, who suffered from emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, complained about feeling unwell at home.

Mrs Cursons said: “I called 111 and they said take his pulse. It was 200. Next thing I knew there was an ambulance outside.”

He was rushed to Colchester General Hospital and the family were told he had major organ failure and he may have to be shocked to regulate the heart.

His heart rate calmed and he was moved to EAUwhen the catalogue of problems began.

Mrs Cursons said: “One nurse told me off for not bringing his medication. She said it was like stealing from the NHS and they didn’t have the medicine to spare.”

Mrs Cursons tried to explain her husband had been rushed in dying and the paramedics had told her it would all be done at the hospital but claims she was just dismissed.

She claimed he was given a nasal canular for oxygen which did not work.

She said: “There was nothing coming out. He could not breath. I told a nurse and she showed me her clipboard and said she was busy.”

She claims he was left in soiled clothes and was subjected to rough treatment.

At the time the unit was struggling with too many patients and not enough staff.

He died at the hospital on December 10 and a complaint was submitted about his treatment in the EAU unit.

A spokesman for Colchester General Hospital said: “We would like to pass on our sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr Cursons.

““Our investigation has only just concluded and we will write to the family to invite them into the trust so a senior nurse can take them through the report.”