HEALTH bosses have admitted their care for a Kidderminster cancer patient who died following a 16-hour trolley wait at Ronkswood Hospital "fell well short" of its standards.

They have written to Sam Goodman blaming staff shortages for the poor care her mother, Jan Harvey, received.

They have promised to ensure a minimum of eight trained nurses are always on shift, but Mrs Goodman believes the perennial winter problems will prevent this.

Ruth Harrison, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, told Mrs Goodman staff levels were "unavoidably depleted" due to sickness on Thursday, October 12 - when Mrs Harvey collapsed at her Kidderminster home with a suspected stroke.

It left six trained nurses and two student nurses to cover the shift, when there should be eight trained nurses.

The nurse appointed to look after Mrs Harvey, 58, was new to the department and was busy treating other patients.

"As a result of this investigation all the staff grade nurses have been informed that with immediate effect, there must be no less than eight trained nurses on each daytime shift as minimum," said Mrs Harrison.

She told Mrs Goodman: "I would also like to apologise to you and your family for the lack of care and consideration given to your mother, clearly this fell well short of the high standards of care we usually provide."

But Mrs Goodman has questioned how the trust expects to ensure a minimum quota of staff.

"What happens during the next unprecedented bout of sickness? As winter approaches the bed situation gets more stressed and staff levels are unable to cope with demands," said Mrs Goodman, of Bruce Road, Kidderminster.

Mrs Goodman, 36, accused the trust of dodging the issue of trolley waits.

"My mum had to wait 16 hours, but they have not explained this. I don't blame the hospital for mum's death because the outcome would not have been different.

"But my mum had four days in hospital when she was not treated with any respect or dignity."