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downsmail.co.uk Grieving widow calls for apology Continued from page one


out. If we had taken him home at that point, it would only have been to start the whole process of trying to find him the help he needed again the next day,” said Mrs God- ding. “Even if we had wanted to take him home, how wouldwe?He was too ill to go in our cars andwe had already learned that the wait for an ambulancewas five hours.” The hospital found the missing


fax from Dr Makey the next day. “Therewas never an apology by


the hospital to Brian, myself or my family for their error. Itwas just ex- pected that patients and their fam- ilies will put up with their mistakes and incompetence,” Mrs Godding said. “We knew that there was something seriously wrong with Brian and yet nobody at Maidstone or Pembury hospital was listening to us.” An eventual MRI scan revealed


that Mr Godding had cancer on his colon, in his lungs, liver, fatty tissue in his stomach and that he had a cancerous tumour on his thigh. The cancerwas terminal. A devastated Mrs Godding arranged for help to get her hus- band home. She said: “We did not want to block a bed,we did notwant to use


“Where was the NHS, which he contributed to all his working life, when he needed it?”


Joan Godding, pictured with husband Brian


family has exacerbated our anxiety and stress and has negatively im- pacted upon our grieving process. “It is clear to us that the NHS service consists of professional peo- ple, who are working under chal- lenging constraints. “However, it would appear that


they are ‘fire-fighting’ andwe now have a health service devoid of care, empathy, patient respect and traditional nursing values.” Mrs Godding has sent copies of


her complaint to Maidstone MP Helen Grant and the leaders of Kent and Maidstone councils, as well as Dr Bob Bowes, the chair- man of the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group. As the Downs Mailwent to press,


the hospital’s resources. Allwe ever wanted was a diagnosis so that we could get him the medical attention he so needed and deserved.” Two weeks later, Mr Godding


was admitted to Maidstone Hospi- tal after falling four times in five days. He was later transferred to the Heart of Kent Hospice, where he died on October 1. Mrs Godding said: “Brian’s care


there was exemplary. He, along with us, was cared for with com-


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passion, respect, expertise, profes- sionalism and dignity.” Just 27 days after his diagnosis,


Mr Godding died. His widow said: “It was thoroughly heart-breaking to see this strong, proud man dis- respected when he was old and vulnerable. “Where was the NHS, which he contributed to all his working life, when he needed it? “Maidstone and Pembury hospi- tals’ treatment of Brian and our


shewas due to have a meeting with a trust representative.  A Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesperson said: “We extend our deepest sym- pathies to Mr Godding's family for their loss.


“The trust can confirm that a let- ter has been received from the family regarding their complaint and we are due to meet with them to investigate what happened. It would therefore be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time.”


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