A GREAT grand-mother who was admitted to hospital with kidney failure claims she was told by a doctor she would be “better off at home”.

Elspeth Ferriday, from Cassington, said she was told she could contract a catalogue of diseases and viruses if she stayed on a ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital and was advised to leave – against her wishes.

The 72-year-old former social worker was admitted to the hospital three weeks ago with renal failure and severe dehydration.

After a week of tests Mrs Ferriday was discharged and told to contact her GP if she felt unwell.

But within days she began suffering convulsions and vomiting, and was readmitted to hospital.

Her husband, Bill Ferriday, said after another week of treatment, including a kidney biopsy, where a small part of the organ is taken away for tests, his wife was visited by a consultant.

Mr Ferriday, 74, said: “It seemed to both my wife and I that the consultant wanted my wife to discharge herself.

“After a prolonged discussion where he tried to frighten her with all the things she could catch while in hospital, she said that if he wanted to discharge her than he should do so, but in the knowledge that it was against her wishes.

“He then left, not a very happy man.”

Mrs Ferriday said she was then moved from an “excellent” medical ward to the stroke unit.

Mrs Ferriday, who also suffers severe arthritis, said she had to walk to her new ward in her night-clothes, only to discover there was no bed ready for her until her husband and another patient volunteered to move a bed from another area for her.

She said she was then ignored and left without pain relief for her arthritis.

After less then 24 hours, Mrs Ferriday rang her husband in tears and begged him to collect her.

Mrs Ferriday said: “When I was admitted for the second time they told me they wouldn’t let me leave until they knew what was wrong with me.

“But they still don’t know why my kidneys aren’t working and I feel foolish to have believed them.

“It felt like a David and Goliath battle to get someone to listen to me.

“Initially I didn’t want to go home because I was scared I would become desperately ill again. But when they moved me to the new ward I saw that the consultant was right. I really am better off at home.“ The couple have submitted a complaint to the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust (ORH).

Elaine Strachan-Hall, director of nursing and clinical leadership, said: “We have received a complaint from Mr Ferriday on behalf of his wife, who was a patient at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

“We take all patient comments and complaints seriously.

“We are looking into Mr Ferriday’s concerns and will contact him shortly to discuss them.”