Hospital ordered to keep woman, 91, alive

DOCTORS were yesterday ordered to keep alive an ailing 91-year-old widow after her grandson went to court claiming hospital staff were not doing enough for her.

The ruling could set new precedents for the treatment of the elderly in British hospitals.

A judge told Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to provide treatment where medically possible, to retired school matron Olive Nockels, from Norfolk, until the rights and wrongs of the way she was being cared for could be established.

The interim order was issued in London after Mrs Nockels’ grandson, Chris West, 32, of Norwich, claimed staff at the Norwich hospital were not doing all they could to treat the pensioner and prevent her from dying.

A full hearing of the case is expected to take place at the High Court in London in the near future.

Julia Quenzler, spokeswoman for health campaign group SOS-NHS Patients in Danger, estimated that thousands of people were concerned that elderly relatives had been allowed to die in hospital when they could have been treated and kept alive.

She said the case could lead to a clarification of elderly patients’ rights and doctors’ responsibilities.

“I would say thousands of people would have similar concerns. I have dealt with hundreds of people who have had similar concerns about the way elderly relatives have been looked after in hospitals,” she said.

“Usually their concerns are raised after a patient has died and it is too late. This time I hope something can be done to keep this poor woman alive.”

Mr West said: “It seems to me that they feel that the best thing would be for her to be allowed to die and I don’t think that’s right.

“I want her to be treated.

“What we wanted initially was for the judge to order them to reinstate hydration, which he has done. What we are most afraid of is that her kidneys will fail and she will die as a result.”

A hospital source said doctors disputed Mr West’s claims and argued that Mrs Nockels had been given the best treatment and care.

The source said Mrs Nockels was seriously ill. Doctors had thought carefully about her treatment for some weeks and in their professional judgment were doing what was best.