A gran with a “heart of gold” died after likely contracting Covid-19 in hospital while awaiting a hip operation.

The Canterbury family of Sylvia Dennis say they feel the QEQM hospital in Margate “should have been a lot more careful” when caring for the 73-year-old, who had an underlying respiratory condition.

Sylvia took a bad fall at her home in Windsor House, Whitstable, in January, and spent more than two months at hospitals in Margate and Whitstable.

But she was diagnosed with Covid-19 during a stay at the QEQM and died soon after.

Her death comes as the hospital has been accused of struggling to control transmission of the disease.

Sylvia was diagnosed with the virus eight days after being admitted to the QEQM.

Official guidance says Covid-19 cases newly diagnosed more than seven days after patients are admitted are “probable healthcare associated”, meaning it is likely the virus was contracted within the healthcare setting.

Sylvia’s daughter Tracy Hoe says her mum, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), should have been isolated or cared for more vigilantly.

“I think they should have protected her,” said Tracy. “Because of her COPD and her age, they should have been a lot more careful.”

After her fall in January, Sylvia was rushed to the QEQM and it was found she had a broken shoulder.

She was kept at the hospital for more than a month, before being sent to the Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital for rehabilitation.

In late March, she was transferred back to the QEQM to have her shoulder checked.

There, medics discovered the grandmother-of-five had also fractured her hip and needed corrective surgery.

Sylvia was taken to theatre but during preparation her vital stats fell, and the procedure could not be carried out.

It was decided she should be discharged with oxygen until it was safe for her to have the operation.

But on April 1, eight days after being admitted to the QEQM, Sylvia developed a cough.

She was given a test for Covid-19, which came back positive.

"She liked to laugh and she’d chat to anybody, she didn’t care if she knew them or not."

She was treated at the hospital for more than a week but her condition deteriorated and medics decided she should be taken to the Pilgrims Hospice in Margate for end-of-life care.

She died at the hospice on April 14.

Tracy, 52, says her mum was a lovely woman who thought the world of her grandchildren.

“She had a heart of gold,” she said. “She’d do anything for anyone. She liked to laugh and she’d chat to anybody, she didn’t care if she knew them or not.

“She was lovely - she really was.”

Tracy says she was “very, very angry” when the hospital revealed her mum had caught Covid-19.

“I couldn’t be there when she died,” she said. “That was the horrible part. She hadn’t been diagnosed but she had dementia I think, so she was a bit confused about what was going on. I was so cross because I couldn’t see her and she couldn’t understand.”

Sylvia is one of a number of patients at East Kent Hospitals who have died after reportedly catching Covid-19 at one of its sites.

In July, the 49 deaths it recorded accounted for 10.2% of all those nationally. Figures also showed that 46% of all Covid-19 patients “probably” caught the infection in hospital, while a further 12% “definitely” did.

Things have improved in August, with the four deaths this month accounting for 4.5% of the total across England.

Earlier this month, an inquest heard how Gwenneth Bowyer, 89, died of Covid-19 after she contracted the disease at the QEQM .

The much-loved grandmother had been admitted to the hospital with appendicitis but died more than a month later after testing positive for coronavirus.

Last month, Dick Lukehurst underwent surgery on a broken leg at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital after strictly shielding at home for three months.

Four days after admission, he tested positive for the virus and his widow says he died a “lonely, miserable death” at the hospital.

A spokesman for East Kent Hospitals said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Dennis’s family on their sad loss.

“Our staff are committed to caring for all of our patients and our thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one during the pandemic.

“We would encourage her family to contact our patient experience team on 01227 783145 so we can look into their concerns.”

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