TOUGH action is needed against hospitals that neglect patients, the Patients Association has said.

It published harrowing stories of patients, many of them elderly, left "starving", told to go to the toilet in their seat because nurses were too busy and relatives largely ignored while their loved ones died.

The charity said for every one of the 16 stories in its damning report, it receives many more detailing similar levels of poor care at the hands of the NHS.

Today's Patients Association report highlights stories from around England reported to its helpline.

Helena Grimwood was admitted to Southend Hospital in September. Her daughter, Hilary Paviour, said toilets were unclean and her mother's hygiene was neglected by nurses.

On one occasion, Mrs Paviour took her mother to the toilet as staff had not done so.

She said: "The toilet seat was smeared with faeces yet her need was so urgent she sat on it anyway. She couldn't wait for me to clean it. Her frailty meant she used her hands to steady herself on the seat as she sat down."

Sue Hardy, director of nursing at Barnet and Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are conducting a full and thorough investigation and have suggested a date to meet the family to discuss our findings and the steps we have taken as a result."