AN outraged family claim they were treated "like dirt" at Castle Street Hospital when they asked for Calpol for their four-year-old son who was recovering from an operation.

Darren Gouldingay says matters went from bad to worse on Bates surgical ward following an operation to remove his son Lewis' tonsils.

When he asked for some Calpol because Lewis' temperature had risen to 38.9 degrees, he said the nurse disappeared for one-and-a-half hours before re-appearing saying none was available for Lewis' age-group.

The same nurse then disappeared for a further three hours, he claimed, saying she would bring some from the pharmacy.

He said she returned only to tell the distraught family, from St Richard's Close, Malvern, that the pharmacy had no Calpol either, and they would have to fetch their own.

Mr Gouldingay, who has no car, had to pay £14 for a taxi ride to a chemist. Now he has written a letter of complaint to the hospital and sought legal advice.

"We were absolutely appalled," he said.

"The nurses treated us like dirt. We were concerned about Lewis' temperature and all we did was ask for Calpol. They acted as if they were really put out.

"As time went on we asked the other nurses and they just said they couldn't help. We just couldn't believe how we were being treated. We were gobsmacked."

Mr Gouldingay says that matters worsened later when Lewis' temperature continued to rise.

"We asked if there was anything else that could be done. We were worried because Lewis has had febrile convulsions before," he said.

"The nurse said that they had paracetamol suppositories, then she got them and just handed the tray to my wife and walked off. "

Mr Gouldingay says the family is at a loss to explain why they received such rough treatment.

"We didn't speak to them rudely or anything - they just ignored us," he said.

"The other nurses were brilliant with other children, they were sitting and talking to them. We just don't understand.

"We couldn't believe that they didn't have Calpol on a ward for children."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is investigating.

Spokeswoman Janet-Marie Clark said: "We have received a letter and we are looking into the matter and will respond directly to the family."