Published on Tuesday 24 April 2012 07:30

A SON is operating his father’s dialysis equipment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to stop him having to be transferred to a hospital in Cambridge.

Denis Parker, 74, of South Lynn, is suffering from respiratory problems but also has kidney failure and needs specialised peritoneal dialysis every day.

When at home, he is cared for by his son, David, who now goes to the hospital every night and morning to connect and disconnect the dialysis equipment. He is also on call if there is a problem with the machine during the night.

David and his sister, Denise Bignell, who is also going to learn how to use the equipment, are worried about what would happen if they could not be contacted, perhaps due to an accident.

Mrs Bignell called for staff at QEH to be trained to use the equipment and said: “In this day and age, when you are in hospital, why should you have to rely on a member of your family to care for you?

“But we have no choice. It’s either that or he goes to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and doesn’t get to see any of his family.”

A hospital spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear of any distress caused to the Parker family. They have not raised these concerns with the ward staff. We will be discussing these issues with them in more detail.”

David Parker also has to transport 17 litres of special dialysis fluid from his home to the hospital for his father’s use every day.

He and his sister reacted angrily when he received two parking tickets while delivering the fluid.

Mrs Bignell said she appealed to the head porter but heard nothing.

They have now been told that the fines have been revoked and David will receive a parking permit.

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