Woman, 84, discharged in nightie

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/shropshire/7174066.stm

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An 84-year-old woman has complained about Hereford County Hospital after having to find her own way home in her night dress at 0300 GMT.

Yvonne Slater was treated for a leg injury in the hospital's accident and emergency unit on New Year's Day night.

After being discharged, she had to pay £80 for a taxi to take her 25 miles home to Ashford Carbonel, Shropshire.

The hospital said it was aware of Mrs Slater's complaint and said it was investigating.

Assurances

Mrs Slater said: "I was in my nightie and dressing gown - I didn't even have my hand-bag - it never occurred to me that they wouldn't keep me in for the night.

"I'm not criticising the medical staff, just the system."

Michael Summers from the Patients' Association said: "The hospital can't throw pensioners out of the front door and say it's nothing to do with us."

People need assurances that this will not happen again, he said.