The family of an elderly Walsall patient who died after allegedly receiving inadequate treatment in hospital has reached an out-of-court settlement with the NHS Trust responsible for his care, it emerged today. Frederick Thomas, 86, died in June 2002, four weeks after being admitted to The Manor Hospital, Walsall, with a broken leg. Solicitors for the pensioner's widow, 81-year-old Edna Thomas, from Little Bloxwich, Walsall, said her husband died from renal failure, septicaemia and a chest infection which she said went undiagnosed for weeks. A settlement was agreed with Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust after the hospital accepted that things had not been done as well as they could have been. Michelle Baker, Mr and Mrs Thomas' daughter, brought the case on behalf of her mother. She said: "We could all see how thin he was getting and how ill he became after a few days in the hospital. I can't believe they let him just go down hill so quickly." Mr Thomas was diagnosed as clinically dehydrated, but not treated for the condition, she added. She said it was only when the hospital assessed him to be fit, despite his continued deterioration, and transferred him to a convalescent home that his critical condition was recognised. Mrs Baker said her father was then sent straight back to hospital and into intensive care. Sara Burns, from Birmingham-based law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: "It seems that Mr Thomas was left to suffer, was not properly monitored and the signs that his condition was worsening were ignored. "Mr Thomas's medical records show that there was a failure to administer fluids and nutrition, so he became dehydrated and frail. This is not an acceptable situation to find in a modern hospital. "The septicaemia, a chest infection and renal failure from which Mr Thomas died were not even diagnosed until he returned from Goscote Hospital." A spokeswoman for the Trust said a full review had been carried out following the death of Mr Thomas. She said: "The Trust recently wrote to the family in connection with the settlement and accepted that things had not been done as well as they could have been. "The new Chief Executive Sue James stressed to the family that, following this incident, a complete review of procedures was undertaken and that practice had changed as a result." | 
