A DISTRAUGHT woman is demanding answers after her late mother's body was returned from the hospital with damage to her face.

Ann Williamson wept as she recalled how her much-loved mum Kathleen Tucker had a deep cut on her lip and a 'drooped' face when her body was returned to the family following her passing last year.

The 54-year-old has been unable to find out how her mother sustained the injuries and has lodged an official complaint.

Kathleen passed away at Inverclyde Royal Hospital on January 15 after being taken in the week before to treat a build-up of fluid in her right arm.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions that were in place at that time, family members were unable to see Kathleen before her death.

But Ann says her mother did not have any facial injuries when she was admitted to the hospital.

Glasgow Times:

She told our sister title The Greenock Telegraph that she was 'deeply concerned' about her mother's treatment during her final days.

Ann said: "Something has happened in the ward or the morgue that I've not been told about and I won't stop until I know the answers.

"The uncertainty has put us through hell.

"I don't know if she was dropped or fell out of her bed or something like that.

"It made her passing so much worse, I was stressed and angry on top of being devastated at losing my mum.

"I need to know what happened to her, I can't get any closure."

Ann says that discovering the cut caused deep distress to the family.

She said: "Mum had make-up on when I saw her body at the funeral parlour, but you could still see how deep the cut on her lip was.

"I need to know what happened to my mother."

Glasgow Times:

Ann admits that she already had concerns about her mum's treatment at the hospital before her passing.

She rang the hospital on several occasions in the week before her mother's death to ask about her condition and claims that on one occasion she was given details of a different patient.

Ms Williamson said: "Getting somebody else's medical details over the phone was shocking.

"I know that if somebody else phoned up and they told them about my mother I'd be furious.

"My mum meant the world to me and my daughter, as I lost my father when I was four, so we were very close.

The Tele raised Anne's mum's case with officials at NHS GGC.

Glasgow Times:

A spokesperson said they would be happy to help address their concerns.

They said: "Our thoughts and condolences go to Ms Williamson and all of Ms Tucker’s loved ones and we are sorry that they are upset with the care provided.

"We received an initial complaint from Ms Williamson’s representative on 11 April 2022 and responded on 14 April looking for more information.

"We would be more than happy to discuss Kathleen’s care with her family to address any outstanding concerns and support them through what remains a difficult time.

"While we cannot comment on individual patients, our teams work hard to provide the very best in patient-centred care, not least throughout the pandemic and while visiting restrictions were in place."