The family of an 84-year-old woman who died at Watford General say if her treatment was given to an animal there would be an outcry.

Valerie Allen, originally admitted to the hospital after a minor heart attack, was awaiting discharge in the Shrodells unit, Tudor Ward, when she contracted the Winter Vomiting Bug and her condition began to deteriorate.

Mrs Allen's son Richard said it became apparent Tudor Ward was not equipped to deal with her worsening health and the family was told their mother would be moved to a clinical ward.

Richard said a transport came but "abandoned" his mother because they were not warned infection control was needed.

Mrs Allen became increasingly distressed as the room was unbearably hot, she was struggling to breath and could not keep medication down.

She was transferred after another two and a half hours, but her family believe the delay "accelerated her death".

Richard said: "It goes without saying that we are all completely devastated by the death of our mother, our anguish is even greater knowing the unnecessary pain and fear mum was subjected to immediately prior to her death.

"We feel she was neglected both in terms of her condition not being monitored closely enough hence she was on a ward with no essential medical facilities to adequately deal with her deterioration.

"Most of all she was abandoned by the first transport team who had the opportunity to move her two and a half hours before she finally was moved which we feel is the main contributing factor to her distress and rapid deterioration, in short we feel the actions of the first transport team undoubtedly accelerated our mother's death.

"I cannot help but think that for the most part my mother was deemed as unimportant because she was elderly, her treatment by Watford General Hospital with a couple of individual exceptions was disgraceful and completely unacceptable. If an animal were treated in this way there would be an outcry.

"Well, we believe that our mother's treatment should not be forgotten or swept under the carpet and the people responsible for neglecting her should be held accountable."

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust bosses have said they will be looking in detail at the events leading up to Ms Allen's death.

Dr Mike van der Watt, Medical Director, said: "I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Allen.

"I was very concerned to hear of the issues raised by Mr Allen in his letter of 22 April 2015 and we are now looking in detail at the events leading up to his mother’s death.

"Once we have completed our investigation, we will be offering to meet with the family to discuss the issues they have raised in more detail, and to give them any support they may need at this difficult time."