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Elderly woman, 88, dies '28 days after carers stopped giving her food or water'

A mother who suffered a stroke died this morning after 28 days without food and water. 
Sarene Taylor, 88, was sent back from a North Wales hospital to die in a care home after foods and fluids were withdrawn, her devastated son confirmed. (Reach)
Sarene Taylor, 88, died on Monday after suffering a stroke about four weeks ago. (Reach)

An elderly woman who suffered a stroke has died after 28 days without food and water, her son has said.

Sarene Taylor, 88, was transferred from a hospital in North Wales into a care home after foods and fluids were withdrawn, according to her son, Rob.

Mr Taylor said his mother died peacefully on Monday morning, but he condemned the approach to her end of life care as "inhumane" and "heartbreaking".

Mr Taylor, a former rural police officer, plans to contact North Wales Police and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales about his mother's death.

"I understand end of life care, and the carers and district nurses do a fantastic job but to deny a human being food and water is disgraceful and we as a society need to ensure that this doesn't happen again," he said.

Last week, he said his mother had been moved to a care home from hospital to die slowly from "dehydration and malnutrition".

She suffered a stroke and was taken to an unnamed hospital in North Wales about four weeks ago, but doctors said there was nothing they could do and began end of life care, including the withdrawal of food and fluids, Mr Taylor said.

A mother who suffered a stroke died this morning after 28 days without food and water. 
Sarene Taylor, 88, was sent back from a North Wales hospital to die in a care home after foods and fluids were withdrawn, her devastated son confirmed.

Caption: Rob Taylor's mum when she was younger. (Reach)
Sarene Taylor, pictured when she was younger, died after going without food or water for 28 days, her son said. (Reach)

"My mum, 88 years of age, had a fantastic life, but sadly four weeks ago today, she was admitted to a hospital in North Wales, with what we found out to be a stroke," he said in an earlier video posted on social media.

"I obviously went up to be with her and spend time with her. The doctor told me that there was nothing more they could do for her sadly and all fluids and food were withdrawn and she was put on end of life care."

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Mr Taylor caught COVID during his mother's last few weeks so was unable to visit her for a period.

"This is not a story about illegality or legality, it's about ethics," he said.

"It's inhumane and absolutely harrowing to the family.

"That such a precious lady has been allowed to lie on a bed in a care home - in fairness being seen once a day by a district nurse and they do an outstanding job, it's nothing against them or the care home - but it's the ethics that she is just left to die, slowly from dehydration and malnutrition in front of our very eyes.

"This is how you would treat people back in the 11th and 12th Century - not 2023. It's absolutely harrowing. There is nothing we can do, absolutely nothing we can do - and they have been wonderful, it's just that it's incredible that she's probably suffering and it's heartbreaking, it's absolutely heartbreaking for us."

Andrea Hughes, director of nursing for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's East Integrated Health Community, said: "We offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Taylor's family for their very sad loss.

"While we cannot comment on individual cases in any detail, we were in daily contact with Mr Taylor about his mother's care and we are investigating concerns that he has raised."

Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots, said: "I would like to offer my condolences to Mr Taylor and his family following the loss of his mother.

"Mr Taylor has contacted me and I am in the process of seeking further details from him about his mother's experiences."