THE daughter of a pensioner who had to be "blue lighted" by ambulance to hospital with severe dehydration, blood poisoning and a raging temperature has said her mother was denied her human rights at her nursing home.

Carol Searle's complaints about the treatment of her mother, Agnes, 77, at the Hillview Nursing Home in Eston, Middlesbrough, were upheld in an Adult Safeguarding Investigation Report by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Social Services.

Bupa, the company who own the home, has formally apologised to the family and have instigated a series of improvements including an early warning system to prevent similar mistakes in future.

Carol Searle, also of Eston, Middlesbrough, complained that she told staff her mother was unwell, possibly with a urine infection, on Sunday, July 27 of last year.

However, the Redcar and Cleveland investigation recorded that the family's concerns were not recorded and a water sample was not taken until the following night. There is no record about what happened with that urine sample.

Agnes Searle's condition worsened and on Thursday, July 31, a doctor was called but there was no record of who made the call or what the doctor said although the doctor agreed prescription drugs should be provided, although that medicine was never collected.

That night Agnes Searle was again in pain, and recorded notes show that at least twice was shouting "please, please help me" and she was unable to stand and was breathing heavily. Care staff helped her and informed the nurse but there is no record about whether the nurse actually attended her. An ambulance was called on the morning of Friday, August 1, five days after the family first raised concerns.

Agnes Searle never returned to the nursing home and died two months later of stomach cancer.

The Adult Safeguarding Investigation Report in September concluded that the family's concerns were "upheld" and "clearly substantiated."

Carol Searle, said: "My mother was left crying and begging for help and that is all logged on her daily care sheets. In my point of view my mother was denied her human rights and neglected."

A spokeswoman for Bupa said: "We have met Mrs Searle’s family and formally apologised to them for not providing our usual high standard of care for her.

“The home’s care team have worked hard, with support from our specialist advisers, and have made a series of improvements. These include a new-early warning system to identify concerns about residents’ health; changes to how we record the administration of medication; a new care planning system; and regular meetings with residents and their families.”

An unrelated general inspection report by regulators the Care Quality Commission published in November concluded that action was needed in the areas of welfare, 'safeguarding people from abuse,' 'management of medicines' and record keeping.