Families urged to report suspected abuse

The Sinn Fein woman said she and her siblings never followed through the complaint concerning their beloved 88-year-old mother which was to their "eternal regret."

Colr. Brolly said a young female patient in the same ward as her mum was so distressed about what happened she reported it to a doctor "who took no action and didn't tell us," said Colr. Brolly.

The female patient then told Anne and her family who started the complaints procedure but were "passed from pillar to post and then our mother died".

"We were so distressed to think this could happen and to our eternal regret we should have gone on with it to stop the same thing happening to the most vulnerable people in our society who are at the mercy of all of us and are not fit to fight back," Colr. Brolly told the 'Journal'.

"They are also so frightened they fear if they do complain something even worse might happen."

Colr. Brolly urged families who believe they have grounds for complaint to "see it through because we must protect the vulnerable people in society. People must be held accountable for their actions." She added that, in other countries, such as Africa where she visited on a charity trip some years ago, old people are revered and "we have a lot to learn to from them".

The Patient and Client Council say they are there to give a voice to patients and their families and help with a variety of issues such as making complaints.