A PENSIONER with a gluten intolerance was given the wrong food at least twice during her stay in a hospital which has been criticised for its appalling standards of care.

May Ellis was admitted to Stafford Hospital in December 2008 after her health began deteriorating.

But between her admission and her death the following February, her family say they saw a number of incidents they describe as "disturbing".

They spoke out a day after an independent report into failings at the NHS hospital highlighted how the trust "routinely neglected" patients and displayed "systemic failings" in its approach to care.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust lost sight of its responsibility to provide safe care after managers became preoccupied with cost-cutting and Government targets, according to the damning study launched after the Healthcare Commission raised fears over a high number of deaths at the hospital.

Mrs Ellis's family said as well as being given food she was not able to eat, they noted a number of incidents which they complained about, including:

Nursing staff leaving a colostomy bag full, which later burst over an open surgical wound;

Staff running out of incontinence pads and family members having to buy them to take to the hospital;

Unprofessional behaviour by a member of staff taking their mother's blood pressure;

Staff members being unaware of a serious back condition mentioned to the family by another doctor;

Being given the wrong instructions on how to dispose of clinical waste at home.

Mrs Ellis's daughters say they don't blame the hospital for her death, but they felt so strongly about her aftercare that a formal complaint was sent to the hospital after she died.

Christine James, of Silkmore Lane, Stafford, said: "I am sure the hospital did the best they could for my mum but there are certain areas where they need to pull their socks up and they include communication, cleanliness and attitude."

Her sister Amanda Dixon, who lives in Sheffield, added: "There was a catalogue of errors."

The details were revealed during an inquest into Mrs Ellis's death yesterday.

South Staffordshire Coroner's Court heard the 78-year-old had been managing her gluten intolerance for some years.

But she become poorly shortly after the death of her husband in 2008 and underwent checks that November.

Mrs Ellis, of Uttoxeter Road, Stone, was admitted to Ward 11 of the hospital on December 17, where further investigations took place and she began treatment.

Mrs Ellis made it home for Christmas, but was readmitted on January 6 after days of feeling unwell.

It soon became apparent she was suffering from the bug Clostridium Difficile.

After that, Mrs Ellis was given the wrong food on January 12 and 15, and possibly on other occasions.

The inquest heard it is unknown how this affected her medically, but it would have made it more difficult to monitor an improvement in her condition.

Several days later, her condition was described as critical and she underwent major surgery to remove a large part of her bowel on January 24.

Mrs Ellis seemed to be improving afterwards and was transferred to a ward, but had to be taken back into intensive care, where a complication occurred and her condition deteriorated.

She passed away on February 13 last year.

A post-mortem examination gave her main cause of death as the infection bacterial peritonitis, linked to other factors such as her surgery.

South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Consultant physician Dr Ray Mathew told the inquest changes have been brought in at Stafford Hospital with regards to serving special meals including the introduction of a colour-coded gluten-free menu.

He added: "There is a training process for anyone who prepares gluten-free food both on the shop floor in the preparation and delivery of it. There is also 24/7 access to advice on the preparation of food."