Elder neglect in care home

14/02/2008

The family of a 94-year-old woman have attacked a care home after a council found she died due to neglect.

Molly Darby was admitted to hospital from The Beeches care home, in Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, but later passed away.

Her sons, Ray Darby, 64, from Sheffield, and Jim Darby, 67, from Rotherham, claim she was healthy when she entered the home but a month later suffered a chest infection, pneumonia, septicaemia, and pressure sores.

Ray Darby said: "She'd had a hard life and did not deserve to endure the suffering and distress she did in her last days."

A spokesman for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council said: "We have completed our investigation into the case of Mrs Darby and have met with the family to discuss our findings.

"We have concluded that there had been neglect by omission and have agreed a protection plan which outlines actions the home should take to improve its care. This will be monitored by our officers through regular inspections.

"Our findings have been passed to the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate for them to decide on any further actions if required. At this stage it would inappropriate for us to comment further."

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Joanne Ashley from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors said: "Prevention of neglect and elderly abuse must become a paramount issue to ensure re-occurrence of saddening cases such as these do not arise."

If you or a loved one has been neglected whilst in a Care Home which resulted in Pressure Sores, our Medical Negligence Solicitors could help you to claim compensation. See our Pressure Sores Claims page for more information.