A RESIDENT has accused Weston General Hospital of failing to diagnose his mother with a serious lung condition. Phyllis McIvor, aged 89

A RESIDENT has accused Weston General Hospital of failing to diagnose his mother with a serious lung condition. Phyllis McIvor, aged 89, now has to use an oxygen mask for the rest of her life. Her son, Howard, aged 55, is now considering legal action due to 'staff incompetence' for a second time, following the alleged mistreatment of his late aunt before Christmas.He said: "It is not about the money, it is about the lack of organisation and staff experience."Mrs McIvor, of Bleadon Hill, Weston, was admitted to the accident and emergency department suffering from breathing difficulties.Before she was discharged, Howard noticed she had not been properly checked over and brought up the matter with staff who then carried out blood tests. Because the 55-year-old 'raised his voice a few octaves', he claims social services were contacted by hospital staff.Days later, Howard's mother was whisked back to the Grange Road hospital in distress and was placed on oxygen for the duration of her week-long stay.The night before she was discharged, she was taken off oxygen at 9pm. She went home the next day at 9.30am.Howard said: "My mother was taken home by ambulance but was in some discomfort by the time she got there."According to her son, ambulance staff said she would have to be readmitted to hospital through a GP. Her condition worsened and a doctor was called. Howard says his mother's GP found she had the beginnings of emphysema, a serious lung condition which leaves the sufferer struggling for breath.A second doctor went to the house four days later and placed Howard's mother on an oxygen machine she will use from now on.Weston Area Health Trust, which runs the hospital, declined to comment as Howard is due to meet with the hospital's chief executive, Lorene Read, this week.