A Moray pensioner has complained to NHS chiefs, claiming a two-month medical nightmare left him hospital-bound for 14 days and a prisoner in his own home.
Bill Heaton was finally diagnosed with fluid on the lungs – after being told to take cough sweets for a sore throat.
Now recovering at his home at Brodie, the 84-year-old is still plagued by dizziness and dependent on a walking frame to get around.
The retired lorry driver said he felt he had been let down by health and social services, which had failed to appreciate the seriousness of his condition.
Last night NHS Grampian said it had launched an investigation into his treatment and would be responding to his complaints.
Mr Heaton’s troubles started following a dream holiday to Las Vegas when he took ill on the return flight to New York on April 3 and spent nine hours in Jamaica Hospital in Queens.
He was put on a course of antibiotics and arrived back in the north-east two days later as his condition worsened.
The pensioner checked himself into Cathay nursing home at Forres for six days, where he suffered multiple sweating and choking attacks.
However, he said that when he consulted his GP at Forres Health Centre, he was advised to take blackcurrent Strepsils to soothe his sore throat.
Mr Heaton said: “I wanted to go back to the health centre, but the doctor phoned me and said don’t bother wasting your money on a taxi and coming down. There’s nothing I can do for you.
“Just keep taking your prescription. Strepsils. Blackcurrent.
“The choking got worse and I dialled 999. The doctor came and found fluid in my lung, so she gave me stronger drugs.”
Mr Heaton said the medicine failed to have the necessary effect and he ended up in Leanchoil Hospital for two weeks – still without a diagnosis.
He has since changed his medical practice but said the mystery illness had left him suffering from extreme dizziness, reliant on a walking frame and unsure of what the future holds.
He added: “The main thing I want to find out is if my condition is permanent or temporary. I can’t get my bins out, I’d fall down if I tried. I need a chair for my shower. I need railing, and I need someone just to pop in or even a phone call to make sure I’m alright.”
Mr Heaton’s friend Adrian Gray accused the “establishment” of forgetting about the pensioner.
Mr Gray, 59, said: “He was in hospital for two weeks, they let him out, but they haven’t treated him for his dizziness and they haven’t told him what it is.
“Although the new practice have been more helpful, we still don’t know what’s wrong.
“He can’t stand up on his own, and he’s had no doctor visit since he left the hospital. He hasn’t had a shower for five days and it feels like nobody’s interested.
“He’s 84. He’s worked all his life, he’s paid his taxes and the establishment basically think he doesn’t exist.
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: “Mr Heaton’s concerns have been raised with the NHS Grampian Feedback service and we are currently investigating them.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. We will respond directly to Mr Heaton and Mr Gray.”