Why did no-one stop my Peter?
Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 15 February 2011
WANTING answers . . . from left, brother Billy Anderson, nephew Peter Anderson and Christine Leach
Family demands answers after patient, 66, wanders from ward and then dies in street
A GRIEVING family is demanding answers from the Royal Oldham Hospital after a relative was found dead in the street after going missing from a medical ward.
Peter Anderson (66), of Limeside Road, was admitted to the Medical Assessment Ward on Friday suffering from a chest and leg infection at about 5pm.
His partner of 20 years, Christine Leach, said she told two staff nurses that he was confused and was prone to walking off.
She said she had wanted to dress him in his pyjamas before leaving at 8pm, as he would have gone to sleep, but staff told her not to.
However, when she called the ward at 10.45pm, staff said they could not find him.
Mr Anderson’s body was in near-by Sherwood Street by a passer-by just before 11pm that night.
The family said CCTV footage shows Mr Anderson leaving the hospital’s main entrance at about 9.30pm.
He is dressed only in a jumper, tracksuit bottoms and only one slipper, and turns right before crossing the hospital car park.
His family, who are still waiting for the coroner to determine a cause of death, are demanding to know how staff did not stop him and how he came by his death.
His brother Billy Anderson (55), from Middleton, said: “No one stopped him.
“He was only in his jumper and tracksuit and it was throwing it down.
“His bed was next to a nurse’s station and they’d been warned that he wandered off, but he was missing for two hours and they didn’t even realise he’d gone.
“If the nurse would have put his pyjamas on he would have fallen asleep.
“We’re trying to find out what happened, we want answers.
“Our mum is 89 and she is devastated, as we all are.
“Its a nightmare.”
Mr Anderson said the Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospital, has not apologised to the family.
Ms Leach said: “To think he was on his own when he died is the most upsetting thing.”
Greater Manchester Police said Mr Anderson was declared dead at the scene at 11.07pm.
There are no suspicious circumstances and the matter has been passed to the Oldham Coroner.
A spokesman for The Pennine Acute Trust, which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “We can confirm that, sadly, a man who was a patient being treated at The Royal Oldham Hospital left a ward and was later found dead near the hospital grounds late on Friday night.
“This is a very sad case. The Trust is looking into the incident and carrying out an investigation internally and working with the police. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family.”
