A FAMILY has accused a Colchester care home of “abandonment and neglect” after a woman was left without a home following an admission to hospital.
Linda Robertson, 59, who lives with multiple sclerosis and a rare form of dementia, spent 42 days in hospital earlier this year after being told she could not return to Welshwood Manor Care Home.
Her daughter, Annie Spooner, said Ms Robertson was admitted to hospital with a suspected urinary tract infection and sepsis, and that during her stay, Welshwood Manor said they could no longer meet her needs.
Ms Spooner said the weeks following her mother’s admission were a “nightmare”, as the unfamiliar environment had a detrimental impact on her health and wellbeing with her not eating, experiencing severe delirium, and being terrified and confused.
She claimed the hospital stay was unnecessarily prolonged because the care home refused to take her back.
Ms Spooner said: “I'd have appreciated a bit of honesty because then we could have made an informed choice.
“We could have found her another home where she then wouldn't have had delirium, she would have been calmer, her health wouldn't have plummeted, and we could have found a home within the normal time frame of 28 days.
“They forced her hand into being in a situation where she had nowhere to go, with no familiarity, regularity or consistency.
“It made her so unwell and it's just outrageous.”
Concerns were also raised about the standard of care before her hospitalisation, with Ms Robertson, who needs assistance to wash and dress, suffering from a severe fungal nail infection believed to have gone untreated for six months.
Ms Spooner said care notes – which were provided after weeks of repeated requests for them – showed little evidence staff encouraged her mother to drink fluids other than sugary beverages, with Ms Robertson having six fillings this year alone.
She also raised concerns over the care home’s requests to use daily sedatives and inconsistencies in their communications about her mother’s behaviour and care plans with herself, adult social care and the hospital.
This included claims Ms Robertson had struck people in the care home in a safeguarding alert – despite telling Ms Spooner, in a recorded meeting, that her mother had never been physically aggressive.
Ms Spooner raised a complaint to the CQC, seen by the Gazette, which was escalated to Essex County Council – but could not yet be investigated due to a safeguard alert the care home raised about Ms Robertson’s deteriorating behaviour.
Since Ms Robertson has been settled at a new home, Ms Spooner has had confirmation her complaint may soon be investigated.
Ms Spooner said: “It was an absolutely awful time, and the crux of it was that my mum’s health was left to suffer in the meantime.
“My mum lost over £100,000 of her own money when she was self-funded paying for Welshwood Manor.
“My mum was a nurse for 25 years and dedicated her life to the NHS before eventually retiring due to her MS diagnosis, and this is how she is rewarded.”
A spokesperson for Welshwood Manor said: “We are sorry we had to terminate Ms Roberton’s residence at Welshwood Manor.
“We appreciate it was the family’s wish that she should remain at Welshwood Manor, and we wholeheartedly empathise with the family and Ms Roberton.
“Unfortunately with Ms Roberton’s progressive condition, it became an inappropriate placement at Welshwood Manor, leaving us with no other option but to end her placement. This was supported by other outside agencies.
“We have been informed that Ms Robertson has now been placed in an alternative placement more suitable for her current and future needs, and hope this home is agreeable to Ms Robertson and her family.”
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We cannot comment on individual cases.
“The council takes the safeguarding of vulnerable adults very seriously and will where necessary take robust action to ensure they remain safe.”
Share