THE daughter of an 82-year-old woman who was placed in isolation at a hospital where a man with swine flu died last week said her family "were not fully informed" of the risk to her health.
The family, who do not want the frail pensioner to be identified, said she had been in a ward at Craigavon hospital for six weeks when she was told that another person on the ward had "taken some sort of flu" and put into isolation.
Her daughter, Margaret, said during a visit they found she had been put on new medication unrelated to the condition which had brought her to hospital.
"She didn't know why she was on them and what they were for," she said.
"I asked to speak to a nurse and she `hmm-ed and and haaa-ed' and said it was some sort of flu. She didn't tell me what the tablets were, or what sort of flu.
"(A few days later) we were told `We have to move your mother and this other woman to two beds down the hall because we need to clean this room'."
Margaret said bedclothes from vacant beds were put into bags marked `infected linen', although her mother's bedding was not changed.
"They put a note on her door saying they were in isolation. We asked and were just told `It lasts 72 hours, she'll probably be all right tomorrow'.
"We were only told that because I asked. Mum is 82 and my father who is 80 and had had a triple by-pass had been visiting and I've recovered from cancer.
"People have a right to know what they were exposed to. There was a complete lack of communication. We still don't know if it was swine flu."
Southern Trust medical director, Richard Wright insisted staff "regularly update patients and their carers on their condition, so all patients should be clear of what they are being treated for" and urged anyone not clear or concerned to raise it with ward staff "who will be very happy to discuss".
Dr Wright said an "expected" seasonal increase in flu, vomiting and diarrhoea was affecting "some of our hospital wards" and confirmed "extra measures" are in place, including "increased deep cleaning of wards and isolating infected patients to the same area".
Visitors have been asked to only visit during designated times, always use the hand rub when entering and leaving wards and not to visit if they or someone in their home has symptoms of cold, flu, vomiting or diarrhoea.
"Flu is very normal for this time of year and we have experienced staff and plans in place to reduce the impact," he said.
SDLP assembly member Karen McKevitt said there is real concern in the community.
"This is not scaremongering here. The trust won't talk about individual cases, but individuals are coming to us with their experience and concerns," she said.
"Anyone in a vulnerable group who has not had the flu jab should see their GP and get in as soon as possible."
