An Australian family is demanding answers after their elderly mother sustained severe injuries while in hospital care, and they were only told five days later.
The 83-year-old woman was receiving treatment at Hornsby Hospital, near Sydney, in late September, 9News reported.
The family was told on September 27, the woman, known as Mrs B, had fallen while in their care and had bruising along her arm.
Two days later Mrs B was transferred to a private respite facility when her daughter Tracey McCarthy visited and discovered her covered in severe bruises, cuts and with two black eyes.
It wasn't until October 2, the hospital informed the family of a second fall in which Mrs B lost consciousness, 9 News reported.
"I was shocked, I couldn't believe the state… couldn't believe it was the same lady," McCarthy told 9News.
"It was really overwhelming and heartbreaking. She's my mum, no one wants to see your mum like that."
McCarthy said she was "livid" neither she nor her brother had been told about the second fall and said Mrs B's injuries "looked like she'd been nine rounds with Mike Tyson".
A spokesman for Northern Sydney Local Health District said the hospital had contacted the family to provide an "unreserved apology".
"An investigation into the care experienced by this patient while in hospital is underway," they said, 9News reported.
"The investigation will include a review of the falls, communication with the family and the discharge process.
"Despite several falls prevention strategies being put in place while in hospital, the patient unfortunately suffered two falls.
"Hospital staff are undertaking a review of the processes around the discharge of the patient, and the hospital has also apologised to the family."
But Australian radio host Ray Hadley, who has known Mrs B for 20 years, said the hospital's explanation to the family about the fall was "incomprehensible and disgusting!"
He said she must have fallen several storeys in the building, not out of her bed to sustain the severe injuries.
"You don't get two black eyes, choke bruising on your neck, skin stripped bare from your arm, by falling. That doesn't happen.
"Someone at Hornsby Hospital knows what's happened to this 83-year-old. It can't possibly be the result of a fall."
