A TERMINALLY ill woman in her 80s was sent home from the Royal Bolton Hospital at 1.30am — just two days before she died.

Now, a retired doctor has accused health chiefs of a “lack of caring”.

The woman, who has not been named, was in the hospital for an operation last Friday.

An ambulance was arranged to take her home later that day, but she was not discharged until 1.30am the next morning.

Dr Krishna Korlipara, a retired GP who owns Rivington View Nursing Home in Albert Street, Horwich, where the woman lived, said: “She was a terminally ill patient who was literally in the final stages of her life.

“This is not the first time it has happened. I really care for these people who are treated so badly. I will do everything I can if nothing is done to pursue this matter.”

Dr Korlipara said he was urging the hospital to stop sending patients home after 8pm and claimed staff at his care home voiced concerns.

He added: “I am heartbroken.

It is not unreasonable for me to wonder if they are sending people in their final stages of life home to improve the mortality figures.”

He is now planning to write to Bolton’s MPs to raise his concerns.

Heather Edwards, head of communications at the hospital, said the care home and relatives had been updated about whether it was appropriate for the woman to be discharged but no concerns were raised.

She said: “In general we avoid discharging patients late at night, although there are occasions when patients or their families prefer to be discharged to their home.

“In this case an ambulance was ordered in plenty of time, however there were several delays before one arrived.”

Mrs Edwards added: “We refute absolutely that this or any decision to discharge a patient is made in order to make our mortality rates look better.”

Dr Korlipara said: “It seems surprising that the bed was so immediately necessary at such an ungodly hour, if that was the case. A person at that stage of life is entitled to a good night’s rest.

“The family was just as shocked as I was that she came home at that time.”