The son of a woman who died at Barnet Hospital after a series of falls is calling for better patient care.

Larry Hemington, 70, believes his mother Lily Hemington would still be alive today if she had been allowed to leave the hospital.

Mrs Hemington, who had 56 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was admitted to the  Coronary Care Unit with an infected foot and leg in August last year.

The 93-year-old stayed in the ward for a week before being moved to Larch Ward where she fell over at least three times and was found lying naked in her room on numerous occasions before she died on October 1.

Mr Hemington, of Westbury Road, North Finchley, said: “I know she had three falls but it could have been more – it shouldn’t have been able to happen.

“When I visited her one time I saw people looking into my mum’s room and laughing – when I went in she had no clothes on and there was just a cleaner in the room.

“I was absolutely furious – and this happened on a few occasions. I feel like my mum died with no dignity.”

Mr Hemington’s friends Janet Crabb and Spike Hawkins also used to visit his mother, helping to dress and feed her.

Ms Crabb said: “I visited her every day – it upset me to see the way she was being treated. It broke my heart.

“One of the other issues was they kept giving her hard food which she couldn’t eat – she needed soft food.”

Listed on Mrs Hemington's death certificate were an infection, a bronchial problem and Alzheimer's disease.

In a letter to Mr Hemington the hospital admitted failing to give his mother the care she needed at all times.

It states: "Caring for patients who become agitated and confused in hospital can be very difficult, but as a trust we aim to always maintain dignity and a caring approach to all aspects of medical and nursing care and there were times during her care we had failed."

But Mr Hemington has asked an ombudsman to investigate and ensure future patients are not treated in the same way.

Mr Hemington said: “I don’t want another person to have to go through this.

“On the ward you would hear people shouting out for the toilet but 20 minutes later someone still hadn’t taken them. It’s not right. Something needs to be done.”

A spokeswoman from Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The trust would like to apologise for the distress caused to Mrs Hemington and her family whilst she was in our care and can assure you that as a trust we are continually learning and trying to improve our standards, especially when caring for vulnerable patients and following incidents of unacceptable care.

"We'd like once more to invite Mr Hemington to attend a meeting with our staff in which we can discuss the issues surrounding his mother's care with him in person so can address the failings identified to try and ensure the same thing does not happen again."