Gross neglect in a care home

SlimmingSusan

I have looked and looked, but cannot see where to post this, their seems to be no legal board.

I was helped massively on here when Dad passed away in May 2013. I now need more advice please. Mother put my Dad into care in November 2012, I was told respite, but it seemed it was for good.

I can elaborate on this, and will when relevant, but the point of this thread is, he was suddenly admitted to hospital on a Saturday morning in early January 2013, the hospital called the police, there was a CID investigation.Gross neglect, pressure sores down to his bones. Dad passed away in May 2013 , after being discharged from hospital on NHS continuing care, to a nursing home. He was still able to sit up and carry his own weight before he went into that home, but, in a matter of weeks he never sat up again.

I cannot go into this as it is so upsetting, but the eventual outcome is that there has been a social services investigation, the police decided there was not enough evidence, he passed away from pneumonia, in the night, alone, as is common.

There has been a recent Social services investigation, which states that gross negligence is upheld, every allegation is upheld, and the report says that they are going to look at internal procedures, as there must have been 10 social workers in 7 years through dad's illness, but particularly when he came under safeguarding there were massive failings.

This is not about money, nothing will bring Dad back, or make his suffering less. This kind of thing should be in the public domain, where do we start with finding a solicitor to sue the care home? It is still up and running, and more families are trusting their care towards their loved ones.

kingfisherblue

I'm sorry to hear this. My daughter works in a village made up of bungalows and flats for older people, and they recently had an inspection (a bit like Ofsted in schools). I think it was the Care Quality Commission who did the inspection. Maybe you could look at their website and see if it is worth reporting the home to them? http://www.cqc.org.uk/

Pricivius

SlimmingSusan, your post rang several bells with me. Without going in the detail, I lost one parent to complications due to an NHS nursing error and a step-parent to Care Home neglect. I know where you are coming from.

But, I would ask this. What are you hoping to achieve?

- If you want change to ensure this should not happen again, then it seems you have already made some real progress in that direction. Failings have been admitted by SS and internal procedures are being reviewed. This is fantastic.

- If you want publicity, then speak to the local paper/TV, or even the nationals. That's publicity.

- If you want to shut the Care Home down, then CQC is the way to go. However, as this happened a while ago, major changes may already have been made. The place could be entirely different (with new staff and altered procedures) from the place that let down your father. Would shutting it down make sense if it is improving? Maybe the answer is to ask for a meeting with the Care Home to understand what their position is and whether any changes have been made. And go from there with ensuring things are different for the service users going forwards.

- With all due respect and understanding from someone in a very similar position, suing the Care Home is a strange step if you genuinely don't want money. The changes that legal action may bring about can be achieved in far less stressful and confrontational ways, and there is no guarantee that suiing the Care Home will bring about its closure which is what you want. The adversarial approach rarely brings about genuine communication and open discussion as everyone is so wary about saying the wrong thing in light of the legal claim. It's unlikely to bring you the comfort you seek.

RuthnJasper

SlimmingSusan wrote: »

I have looked and looked, but cannot see where to post this, their seems to be no legal board.

I was helped massively on here when Dad passed away in May 2013. I now need more advice please. Mother put my Dad into care in November 2012, I was told respite, but it seemed it was for good.

I can elaborate on this, and will when relevant, but the point of this thread is, he was suddenly admitted to hospital on a Saturday morning in early January 2013, the hospital called the police, there was a CID investigation.Gross neglect, pressure sores down to his bones. Dad passed away in May 2013 , after being discharged from hospital on NHS continuing care, to a nursing home. He was still able to sit up and carry his own weight before he went into that home, but, in a matter of weeks he never sat up again.

I cannot go into this as it is so upsetting, but the eventual outcome is that there has been a social services investigation, the police decided there was not enough evidence, he passed away from pneumonia, in the night, alone, as is common.

There has been a recent Social services investigation, which states that gross negligence is upheld, every allegation is upheld, and the report says that they are going to look at internal procedures, as there must have been 10 social workers in 7 years through dad's illness, but particularly when he came under safeguarding there were massive failings.

This is not about money, nothing will bring Dad back, or make his suffering less. This kind of thing should be in the public domain, where do we start with finding a solicitor to sue the care home? It is still up and running, and more families are trusting their care towards their loved ones.

I am very, very sorry to hear about this. Have you thought about raising it with your MP? It's an appalling situation.

Alternatively, this section of the Age UK (formerly Age Concern and Help the Aged) website may be able to assist: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care/appeals-and-complaints-to-your-local-authority/

Every good wish to you Susan. x

SlimmingSusan

Thanks for your replies everyone, yes I do agree that legal action is probably not the right thing, it is just the first way you react when upset like this, but thank you for that point, it would still not achieve what we want, which is people to be accountable, and other families made aware.

My mother is keeping the report to herself, having let us all read it once. She is 81 and likes to feel she is in control of everything, no matter what effect she has on myself or my kids. It was her 'control' which caused this situation in the first place. The whole thing has torn the family apart, and is making me ill. Even my gp is concerned and wants to see the report.

Oh and I actually made an appointment with the local MP yesterday for 9th January, but without the report I am going to look crazy, and nobody will come with me. They are all brushing it under the carpet whereas I cannot. Can I get the report under Freedom of Information?


The CQC have been informed, and they did 2 unannounced visits. It is all in the report.

I wish I could go to the media, but the family is fragmented now as it is, and I don't want to make things worse. It is tearing me apart, and I think Christmas is magnifying it all. It was just after Christmas 2012 that it happened,and I keep remembering him sat there in the lounge on Christmas Day, and he didn't sit up at all for much longer after that.

I'm having massive problems with my mother as it is, as she literally sits in her rise and recline chair all day and does nothing, yet she says she is 'managing nicely thank you', when the reality is she is manipulating my kids to run round after her when I try to make a stand and get her to
accept help, She is totally housebound and can hardly walk. The whole situation is horrendous.

cavework

Susan,
I have picked up from previous posts you have made that your Father suffered a stroke 7 years ago. Also you are the sole carer for your Mum?
I think firstly that you need a break.. this is all getting too much for you and I understand why
You really need to talk to Adult Social Services and get some respite care for your Mum , then you have time to assess how you want things to proceed.
You cannot carry on like this .I admire the fact that you are looking after your elderly Mum but your first responsibility is to the health and welfare of yourself .
TC
xxx

SlimmingSusan

cavework wrote: »

Susan,
I have picked up from previous posts you have made that your Father suffered a stroke 7 years ago. Also you are the sole carer for your Mum?
I think firstly that you need a break.. this is all getting too much for you and I understand why
You really need to talk to Adult Social Services and get some respite care for your Mum , then you have time to assess how you want things to proceed.
You cannot carry on like this .I admire the fact that you are looking after your elderly Mum but your first responsibility is to the health and welfare of yourself .
TC
xxx

Yes that is exactly right careworker. Mum will not accept help, she is bonkers.

I think I may have to defer the second year of my degree until next september to deal with this, am literally half way through a psychology degree and doing well, but , you are right, this isd a ver sick family, and I am going to be the cost after dad. Where do I turn for help, it is me having been under mh services, but only in mopping up everyone else's messed up thinking, I think so anyway, maybe it is me who is mad?

ANGLICANPAT

When you say bonkers, is that just figuratively speaking, or does she actually have some dementia?

BobQ

FOI requests

You may find this of interest

https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1202/information-about-the-deceased-foi-eir.pdf

cavework

SlimmingSusan wrote: »

Yes that is exactly right careworker. Mum will not accept help, she is bonkers.

I think I may have to defer the second year of my degree until next september to deal with this, am literally half way through a psychology degree and doing well, but , you are right, this isd a ver sick family, and I am going to be the cost after dad. Where do I turn for help, it is me having been under mh services, but only in mopping up everyone else's messed up thinking, I think so anyway, maybe it is me who is mad?

You are not mad love, you are burned out and need some flippin help ASAP..
You should be very proud about how you have coped until now
This is urgent and you need to do it ASAP
First .. your GP .. register with them as a carer and make an appointment , you need to TC of yourself..Tell them how b****y exhausted you are
2nd .. contact Age UK.. talk to them, they will help ,, push for help
3rd... contact Adult Social Services, hopefully your medical practice will help you with this but do not be fobbed off


Then .. you PM me anytime , you are not a failure , the system is failing you and you deserve a life worth living..
XXX

cavework

SlimmingSusan wrote: »

I have looked and looked, but cannot see where to post this, their seems to be no legal board.

I was helped massively on here when Dad passed away in May 2013. I now need more advice please. Mother put my Dad into care in November 2012, I was told respite, but it seemed it was for good.

I can elaborate on this, and will when relevant, but the point of this thread is, he was suddenly admitted to hospital on a Saturday morning in early January 2013, the hospital called the police, there was a CID investigation.Gross neglect, pressure sores down to his bones. Dad passed away in May 2013 , after being discharged from hospital on NHS continuing care, to a nursing home. He was still able to sit up and carry his own weight before he went into that home, but, in a matter of weeks he never sat up again.

I cannot go into this as it is so upsetting, but the eventual outcome is that there has been a social services investigation, the police decided there was not enough evidence, he passed away from pneumonia, in the night, alone, as is common.

There has been a recent Social services investigation, which states that gross negligence is upheld, every allegation is upheld, and the report says that they are going to look at internal procedures, as there must have been 10 social workers in 7 years through dad's illness, but particularly when he came under safeguarding there were massive failings.

This is not about money, nothing will bring Dad back, or make his suffering less. This kind of thing should be in the public domain, where do we start with finding a solicitor to sue the care home? It is still up and running, and more families are trusting their care towards their loved ones.

OK this will probably be the last post I make on here because I am sure I will be slated but here goes..
My dad suffered a big stroke in 2010 that left him unable to communicate, read, walk, talk , was doubly incontinent and his personality changed within one week.
He had vascular dementia, ongoing small strokes that slowly but surely removed everything about him that was my Dad.
He was moved to a Nursing home in 2010 from hospital
In August 2012 while I was on holiday he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia (common ) and although he refused all tablets and medication, survived and returned to the home.
From then on it was a completely downward slope and by Xmas he was nothing more than a husk who sat in a chair making repetitive motions and gazing at the window where the light came in.
There was no recognition , it was time to go.
First week of Jan he decided enough was enough, aged 90.
I was with him when he finally found peace
The Nursing Home did everything possible to make my Dads last years comfortable but the outcome would always be the same, he was at the end of his life.
There are people who find it very hard to live with the guilt of having elderly loved ones put into care but blaming the Nursing /care home for the death of someone who is reaching the end of their natural life is often a knee jerk reaction.
xxx