THE family of an elderly woman are demanding answers over how she came to be covered in bruises while being treated in hospital.

Sam Zair, from Bishop Auckland, claims his questions have been left unanswered by the findings of an investigation by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust into the care of his mother Bernice while she was in Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The 89-year-old, who had dementia, was admitted on Sunday, December 16, with a urine infection.

Mr Zair raised concerns when he found her being treated on a mattress on the floor on ward 14 but he said he was appalled to discover bruises on her body on Wednesday, December 19.

Following an internal investigation, the trust admitted failures in care and communication and has put new measures in place but say there is no evidence to support allegations Mrs Zair was abused or neglected.

A police report also concluded there is nothing to say the bruises had been caused intentionally.

However, Mr Zair believes hospital staff must know what happened between 9pm on December 18 and 11am the following morning, which would explain why she had bruises to her arms, legs, body and eye.

“We need to know how this has happened,” said Mr Zair. “When someone goes into hospital you expect them to get better not end up covered in bruises. It is absolutely appalling. We still can’t believe what has happened.

“Why can’t they (the trust) tell us what happened. When we left her there the night before she didn’t have any bruises but when we came back she was covered."

Mrs Zair died in the hospital in January after developing pneumonia.

The report into her care, which has been seen by The Northern Echo, states Mrs Zair was sometimes placed on a mattress on the floor because staff believed she was at risk of injury due to being in a delirious state and agitated.

It adds that a black eye was sustained while she was on a hi-lo bed, although Mr Zair claims they were told she had suffered a minor head injury and it was “nothing to worry about.”

Mike Wright, executive director of nursing at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, said: “We have met with Mr Zair and family and again offered our condolences for their loss. We have also offered to meet again to resolve any outstanding concerns.

“Our investigation has highlighted some shortcomings in the care of this patient. We have apologised unreservedly and have put actions in place to address them. Some of these have already been completed."

He added: “We strongly refute any suggestion that bruising sustained by Mrs Zair was inflicted wilfully or as the result of physical abuse or neglect.

“We cannot discuss specific details about Mrs Zair’s care, for reasons of confidentiality.

“Advanced dementia and delirium are complex conditions to manage and carry risks to the patient of the potential for harm and bruising, particularly when delirium is heightened.

“Sometimes, the safest option is to nurse the patient on a mattress on the floor. This is a difficult decision to make and is not taken lightly but is made in the best interests of the patient.”