Complaint upheld against hospital

Mr Stonestreet was admitted to Frenchay Hospital in 2007

Frenchay Hospital near Bristol has been criticised for failing to follow guidelines on the resuscitation of terminally ill patients.

The Healthcare Commission has upheld a complaint by a family who said they were not told their relative's heart would not be re-started if it stopped.

Brian Stonestreet, 76, was admitted to Frenchay in 2007 with leukaemia.

The hospital said Mr Stonestreet was told of the consultant's decision but that the decision was not documented.

'Terminally ill'

The job of telling Mr Stonestreet's relatives had been delegated to a junior doctor, the hospital said.

Frenchay Hospital has since reminded all clinical staff of the guidelines to both discuss and record the decision with family and relatives.

Mr Stonestreet's family, from North Somerset, learned that their uncle was labelled as DNAR - do not attempt resuscitation - by doctors without their knowledge.

He was terminally ill with leukaemia when he was admitted to Frenchay but died two days later after being diagnosed with C difficile.

His niece Annette Hennese said Mr Stonestreet was not able to get home to die or speak to his family.

"The DNAR policy is very clear," she said. "When that decision is made that patient should have the right to have someone with them for support when that matter is discussed with them.

"My uncle didn't have that and we lost out on those last hours with him."

After Mr Stonestreet's death the family complained to the hospital that they were not told about his infection.

'Sincere condolences'

Four months later, the family discovered in a meeting about their complaint that a consultant had made an order that Mr Stonestreet should not be resuscitated, if his heart stopped.

There is no record of Mr Stonestreet being informed and his family said they were not told either.

In a statement North Bristol NHS Trust said it expressed its "sincere condolences" and that it took the report's recommendations "very seriously".

It said all staff had been reminded that if a DNAR order was made it should be discussed with the patient and documented.

The hospital has also implemented a checklist to make sure families are also informed if a relative has C difficile.

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