A MAN has told of the upset and distress caused by Southend-hospital.co.uk" target="_blank">Southend Hospital’s treatment of his dying father.

Derek Goody’s 63-year-old dad, also called Derek, was told he had a terminal brain tumour on August 7 and had between three and 12 months to live.

Yet he had to wait seven weeks for an appointment for radiotherapy treatment at Southend Hospital.

However, his treatment was cancelled without any warning, or a word of explanation, and it was left to Mr Goody Jnr to deliver the heartbreaking news to his father that doctors had given up on him.

Mr Goody, 41, explained: “On September 18, I rang the hospital to confirm my dad was being picked up by hospital transport to attend his appointment. It was then I was told his appointment had been cancelled by the consultant.

“The hospital couldn’t explain why, so I asked the secretary if the consultant could ring me personally for an explanation. as my dad would be sitting at home waiting.

“I was then told the hospital had not sent a letter out to my dad explaining why his appointment was cancelled, nor had the hospital transport been informed as they later arrived to pick him up.”

Mr Goody got a call from the consultant, Dr Madhavan, that afternoon, explaining the hospital had cancelled the appointment as they felt they couldn’t do anything more for him.

Mr Goody, of Daniel’s Close, Chafford Hundred, said: “Dr Madhavan rang me and simply said because of the worsening condition of my dad, there would be no visible improvement with his tumour so he had decided not to treat him and was discharging him from his clinic to be put back under the care of his local GP.

“It was left to me to break the news to my dad that he would not be receiving radiotherapy treatment, which my dad knew full well could have prolonged his life to an extent.”

Mr Goody is furious at the treatment his father, who lives in Aveley, has received.

He added: “I am extremely angry and upset at how the whole business was handled and the uncaring attitude.

“My dad knows damn well he is virtually a dead man walking with not even a slight chance to live longer.

“This is a shoddy and disgraceful affair. So much for looking after people.”

Pat Stone, a spokesman for Southend Hospital, said: “We are very sorry that Mr Goody’s son is not happy with his father’s treatment. We have had a number of discussions with Mr Goody Jnr to explain the situation in detail.”