Posted online: Jun 7th, 2010

A County Derry man has complained about the quality of care given to his mother at a local hospital.
Kilrea man Francis McWilliams says he was forced to change and clean his 87-year-old mother Nancy during a recent visit to the Causeway Hospital where she is a patient.
The angry Kilrea man says he was disappointed by the response from staff when he complained about the condition he found his mother in.
Mr McWilliams last night branded conditions at the hospital as “squalid” and says he was so distraught after one visit he was moved to tears.
He said: “I didn’t want to find my mother in that state. I have cared for her in the past and I can assure you she was never allowed to get into that state. She was wet and dirty and I had to clean her up. Later on I cried my heart out at the condition I found my mother in at 87 years of age. The condition she was being kept in can only be described as squalid.”
Mr McWilliams has lodged an official complaint with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.
East Derry Sinn Féin assembly man Billy Leonard supports the Kilrea man’s call for an investigation.
He said: “Obviously there seems to be an issue of care and I hope the investigation of the official complaint is thorough.”
A spokesperson for the Northern Trust said: “The Trust has received a complaint from Mr McWilliams which will be dealt with through the Trust complaints procedure. It would not be appropriate to discuss the details of the complaint through the media.”