"Worried about staff responsiveness to my mother whilst she's in hospital"

My mother is currently on Tilgate Ward, East Surrey Hospital.

Unfortunately, she is seriously ill. Being in her condition, she is unable to carry out basic functions - washing herself, going to the toilet and getting out of bed.

When I visited her this week, she was very depressed and wanted to give up on life. When I enquired as to why she felt this way, I was astonished to find out that earlier that day, my mother had requested to go to the toilet. Staff provided her with camode, assisted her onto it and then left her. When my mum had finished, she rang the bell for assistance, no one responded for over 30 mins.

This obviously upset my mother and left her feeling totally incapable of looking after herself, which in turn prompted her desire to 'end it all'.

Whilst I appreciate staff are busy, my mother is seriously ill and should never have been left for that length of time.

My other concern is the lack of response to her repeated requests for help.