With deep regret we can reveal that an elderly woman has died after allegedly being refused admission to hospital in Glasgow.

Her name was Natalie. Her husband said he 'loved her dearly'.
#COVID19

Natalie's care home nurse says we should remember her 'with a smile'.

'She was always smiling.'

Natalie Wolfson was 85 years old. She was a resident at Westacres Care Home in East Renfrewshire.

She passed away the day after her GP allegedly asked for her to be admitted to hospital for hydration and pain relief after she fell and fractured her upper arm.

The manager of the care home told us she believed Natalie, who also had suspected Covid-19 symptoms, died as a consequence of being refused admission to the hospital.

Care Home manager Linda:

'People still need treatment and if we learn anything from Natalie’s death is that we don’t ever let it happen again.'

In First Minister’s Questions on April 21st, Scotland’s First Minister @nicolasturgeon said it was “vital” to get the message across that “the NHS is open”.

The same message has been repeated by politicians across the UK.

Natalie became a resident at Westacres Care Home two months ago. She had Alzheimer’s but her care home nurse, Laura Millar, said she was “full of life”.

Earlier in April, Natalie was being 'barrier nursed.' Her carers wore full PPE owing to suspected Coronavirus. But according to nurse Laura, her symptoms 'eased', the barrier nursing was stopped and as little as two weeks ago 'she was out and about and enjoying life.”

Then Natalie had a fall. She was admitted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and according to the care home, was discharged hours later with a collar and pain killers for a fracture to her upper arm.

Story here:
https://www.channel4.com/news/revealed-elderly-woman-dies-after-being-refused-admission-from-glasgow-hospital

More on @Channel4News at 7pm

Produced, shot and edited by the excellent @luciajwalker and @shootscotland

(Apologies for break in thread.)

Care Home Manager Linda said Natalie deteriorated quickly after being discharged: 'She became very frail because her pain levels were such that she wasn’t eating or drinking.'

The Care Home decided Natalie needed to go to hospital for pain relief and to be put on a drip.

The Care Home incident log on Thursday April 16th reads:

“Call received from Dr to say that she would admit Natalie to hospital. She called the hospital and called back stated that the hospital have refused to admit Natalie for pain relief and re-hydration.”

Care Home manager: 'The GP agreed with us - she should have been admitted to hospital.. but the answer when she came back was they weren’t going to take her in, she wasn’t to be admitted..

'I understand that Covid’s in the hospitals and that Natalie had been a suspected case but she should still have been treated.'

We asked Care Home manager Linda what she believed the consequences were of Natalie not being admitted to hospital. Her answer:

'She died.'

Natalie's carers say they are 'heartbroken'.

Nurse Laura: 'Natalie is a lady that should have been entitled to the same rights as anybody. Irrespective of her age or if she had suspected coronavirus. She was a lady that deserved more than what she got.'

Westacres Care Home says Mrs Wolfson’s cause of death was certified as “presumed Covid” with “humerus bone fracture” listed as a significant condition contributing to her death.

Care Home manager Linda says Natalie 'didn’t need to die.'

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are now ‘investigating’ and said in a statement:

Natalie was married to her husband Leslie for over 65 years.

He said: “I loved her dearly and we were still on our honeymoon.”