Florence May Flint, of Wirksworth spent eight days in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary complaining of excruciating pain – and now her family are insisting this must not happen to anyone else.

The 87-year-old from Nether Gardens was sent home from the DRI and struggled to cope for four days.

Finally her family called an ambulance and she was taken to Derby City General Hospital where doctors discovered the pensioner had a broken hip.

Her son Brian Flint said he wants an apology and explanation of how such a 'catastrophe of events can occur'.

He added: "This is not a witch hunt but the treatment was disgusting.

"My mother was sent home and told simply it was 'wear and tear'. They even suggested she had acupuncture."

Mr Flint said his mother almost passed out from pain when made to undergo painful physiotherapy, which involved raising her knees.

He added: "I intervened and asked why the nurse was being so sadistic.

"I was told that exercise made pain go away."

Mrs Flint was admitted to the DRI in November and given several tests and a scan. Mr Flint said the doctors said there was nothing they could do and sent her home.

Four days later doctors discovered Mrs Flint had broken her left hip and she was transferred back to DRI for a hip replacement.

But Mr Flint said he was shocked by the degrading treatment his mother received.

He added: "My mother buzzed for assistance to be guided to the toilet and was told that she'd got an incontinence pad on, so she could do it in that.

"My mother is extremely hurt and disgusted and is the type of person who apologises for being a nuisance."

A spokesman for Derby Hospitals said: "We are taking the allegations made by Mr Flint very seriously indeed.

"We are currently conducting a thorough investigation and will be very disappointed if that was the level of care his mother received."