A GRIEVING great-gran who buried her beloved husband last week claims she was made to feel “frightened and guilty” about pressing their emergency button during his final days.

Born-and-bred Andoverian Joyce Reynolds, 91, and her husband Bill, 94, had a panic button installed in their home two years ago after he suffered a stroke.

The great-grandmother of 13 said they had only used it a handful of times, but when they pressed it on two recent occasions, when she suffered a turn related to her diabetes, the couple were left on the verge of tears by the visiting doctor.

Mrs Reynolds, who was married for 74 years, told the Advertiser: “We were told that every time we pressed it we were wasting national health resources, which upset us both a lot.

“We were also told we’d be better off in a care home.

“But I’m proud of how I cared for Bill, I was praised by nurses, ambulance staff, family, friends, everyone.

“I did a good job and shouldn’t be made to feel guilty.”

“It got to the point where we were frightened to press the button, but people told me ‘you’ve got every right to use it, it’s there for you and you should press it no matter what’.

“We’ve worked all our lives, Bill served in the war, and I’ve saved the NHS thousands by caring for him, so I can’t see how we’re wasting resources.”

They pressed the button for the final time on August 27, when Mrs Reynolds was struggling to get Mr Reynolds into bed. The ambulance took the retired bus conductor and McDougall’s driver to Winchester hospital and he died the next day.

Mrs Reynolds, who was born in New Street and now lives in Abbotts Ann, said: “It was very sad, he wanted to die at home.”

While there is no suggestion the button situation played a part in Mr Reynolds’ death, his widow wants to make sure other families are not put off pressing theirs. She said: “I don’t want to criticise the nurses, they were marvellous, and my son John has been brilliant, but I want to speak out about how we were made to feel about it, I don’t want anyone else to be made to feel guilty or be put off.

“I miss Bill. He had a heart of gold and was the most gentle, kind man you could ever meet.”

Dr Liz Mearns, medical director at NHS England South (Wessex), said: “ I’m very sorry to learn of the concerns raised by Mrs Reynolds to the Andover Advertiser, and I would like to express my sincere condolences for her sad loss. It is important that all patients have the confidence to know that they will receive an appropriate, professional and timely response to their requests for assistance.

“NHS England is unable to comment publicly on individual cases.”