A MOTHER who believes her diabetic daughter was let down by medics after she suffered a seizure has helped bring about improvements in an accident and emergency department.

Helen Foster, from Esh Winning, was staying with her mother, Julie, in Wolsingham earlier this month when her blood glucose levels dropped so low she became hypoglycaemic, started having a seizure and hit her head.

Fearing her daughter, 31, might slip into a coma, an associated risk of severe hypoglycaemia, Mrs Foster called for an ambulance and her daughter was rushed to the University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City.

However, Mrs Foster said when the pair arrived at the hospital’s emergency department the care given to her daughter was insufficient given the severity of the situation.

Instead of going into a ward to see a doctor immediately, Miss Foster, who has Type 1 diabetes, and her mother had to wait in the waiting room for more than an hour. Mrs Foster claims she had to push staff to provide carbohydrates and to check her daughter’s blood glucose levels.

“Helen was still very drowsy and didn’t know what was going on,” said Mrs Foster. “What would have happened if I wasn’t there? She could have slipped into a coma.

“Nobody checked that I knew how to operate her pump. Severe hypos are dangerous and I believe they should be treated in the same way as heart attacks and strokes.”

Mrs Foster raised her concerns with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust where staff arranged to meet her last week.

A series of changes were agreed to improve the service for diabetics in the accident and emergency department.

These will include mandatory training for nurses in the department about hyperglycemia and hypoglycaemia, and what to do when a patient presents with an insulin pump.

Information sheets about the amount of carbohydrates in food will also be distributed and posters advising people to inform staff if they are diabetic will be displayed.

Diabetic patients will also be observed and reception staff will undergo training.

Mrs Foster said: “It was such a positive meeting. I’m pleased they listened to me and I hope it helps other people with diabetes.”

A trust spokesperson said: “We welcome opportunities to listen to patients and their relatives about their experience when in our care and are grateful to Miss Foster and her mother for taking the time to meet with a senior member of our clinical team.

"Their feedback on aspects of the care given in the Emergency Department to patients with diabetes will lead to a number of changes and we have agreed to continue liaising with them as these are implemented.”