A NORTH-EAST family's anger at the "appalling" treatment of their terminally-ill father has been backed by the Health Service Ombudsman.

Two unnamed daughters complained to the Ombudsman after their father, who was dying from lung cancer, was deprived of pain relief for ten hours.

They were also appalled when nurses at Bishop Auckland General Hospital failed to provide pyjamas for their father and - during the final stage's of his illness - came in to change the curtains in his room.

The patient, identified only as Mr Z, was admitted to the hospital in 1999.

Unhappy at the response from the South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, the daughters, Mrs X and Mrs Y, were advised by South Durham and Weardale Community Health Council to contact the Health Ombudsman, Sir Michael Buckley.

In a strongly worded report, Sir Michael upheld the family's complaint against the trust, finding that there was significant shortcomings in nursing care and pain relief.

"I consider it wholly unacceptable that he was allowed to sit in a chair without proper clothing," said Sir Michael.

"I also find it difficult to accept the reason given as to why Mr Z was not seen for ten hours the night before he died, during which time he received no pain relief at all."

Valerie Bryden, chief officer of South Durham and Weardale CHC, said: "The standard of care in this care was appalling. No one should be treated like that."

John Saxby, chief executive of South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, said: "We were extremely concerned when we initially investigated the complaints.

"The standards of nursing care did not meet those which patients and relatives have a right to expect and which we normally provide. We apologised for these failings.

"The Health Service Ombudsman's report again emphasised that the standards of nursing care received by Mr Z were unacceptable and we have again extended our sincerest apologies to his family.

"We have since reviewed nursing practices."