BRADFORD Royal Infirmary has apologised to a man who claims he made nearly 70 unanswered phone calls to check on the condition of his critically-ill partner.

Andrew Mitchell’s partner Sharon McWilliams was rushed into hospital on Saturday and was admitted to Ward One with septicaemia. He said she was given a 50/50 chance of survival.

She was moved to intensive care on Wednesday after her condition worsened, and died at BRI yesterday morning, aged 43.

Mr Mitchell, who works as an HGV driver, said he tried to call the hospital on Sunday and Monday for updates on his partner, but his calls, nearly 70 in total, went unanswered.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said a problem with one of the ward’s phones was the reason no-one picked up.

Mr Mitchell, of Little Horton, disputed this, saying when he took his partner into hospital, the phones were “ringing off the hook”and no-one was answering.

He said: “I’ve never known anything like it, I had 28 unanswered calls on Sunday and 38 unanswered calls on Monday.”

Mr Mitchell claimed that, when he spoke to the hospital’s reception, he was told the ward was busy but that they should still be answering the phones.

He said: “If one of the phones was down, that still leaves another one, it’s no excuse.

“I have no criticisms of the care that was provided, they did everything they could for Sharon.

“She was 50/50, she had problems with her kidneys and her liver.

“When she got moved off the ward into intensive care I was called and whenever I rang the intensive care unit they picked up straight away, after two or three rings.

“I think there should be a duty of care for the family as well as the patient to keep them in the loop.

“I cannot believe I was speaking to her on Tuesday night and now she is gone.

“There have been lots of nice messages left on her Facebook page from friends.

“I know they have apologised, but what good is an apology now?”

Mr Mitchell paid tribute to his partner of 10 years, who had three children. “Sharon was thoughtful and kind, never hurt anyone,” he said. “Sharon was a very shy, nervous person and was scared of going to the hospital and then going backwards and forwards to be treated, as she never wanted to put on anyone.

“We had our ups and downs but would not change anything. Sharon will be remembered for the loving, kind person she was.”

A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are sorry to hear of Mr Mitchell’s experience.

“Unfortunately there was a problem with one of the phones on the ward, which is now being addressed.

“Depending on the availability of staff on busy wards to answer calls, we normally do respond to telephone requests for updates on a patient’s condition from family members, and we would always contact a patient’s next of kin if there was any significant change.”

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