A DEVASTATED woman has hit out at a hospital's treatment of her father before his death.

Raymond Thompson, aged 69, who had skin cancer, was taken to the Worcestershire Royal in December after suffering a suspected stroke.

His daughter, criminal negligence lawyer Joanne, claims she had to fight to have 'do not resuscitate' signs removed from his notes. And she says that if she hadn't been there to challenge staff, they would have given up on him altogether.

"It was a disaster from the day he went in," said the 37-year-old, of St John's, Worcester.

"The nurses did their best but the doctors were appalling. Their attitude was it was unimportant because he's elderly."

She said that a doctor decided he should not be resuscitated after a three-minute examination, and diagnosed a stroke, angina, and lung problems.

In fact, Mr Thompson, of Lower Wick, had encephalitis - an inflammation of the lining of the brain - a fortnight after being admitted. He then contracted deadly superbug MRSA.

Miss Thompson was only able to recognise the 'do not resuscitate' sign through her work - and when she demanded its removal, she was stunned to be told it had been issued with her consent. Another doctor later admitted the "do not resuscitate" order was made in haste.

Miss Thompson said hygiene standards were 'abysmal' and that a warning that her father had MRSA was only put up four weeks after it was diagnosed.

He suffered a cardiac arrest, fell into a coma and died on Wednesday, January 26.

John Rostill, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We have every sympathy with Ms Thompson and her family.

"However, I cannot accept that we practise ageism. Around 75 per cent of our patients are 65 or older. They receive treatment on the basis of clinical need and medical condition.

"We carried out a thorough investigation into Ms Thompson's lengthy and detailed complaint. We hoped that the equally lengthy and detailed response would answer her questions.

"She telephoned us to say that she would write again with further queries, but we have yet to hear anything.

"We have already offered to meet with her to go through any issues she wants to raise, and that offer remains open."