82-Year-Old Was In And Out Of Hospital With Pressure Sores In Just Six Months At Morvern Care Centre In Lancashire

The heartbroken family of a woman who passed away after developing pressure sores while in residential care is hoping the coroner’s decision to refer a district nurse supervisor to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will prevent further deaths.

Dementia patient Dorothy Imisson was admitted to Morvern Care Centre in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, on February 21, 2014 but died on August 9 - less than six months later - after several admissions to Blackpool Teaching Hospital.  

Her distraught family instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate how Dorothy, from Cleveleys, was left to develop the sores despite being assigned two carers. 

Dorothy was also supposed to be treated by district nurses, but coroner Dr James Adeley said that simply did not happen.

An inquest into the 82-year-old’s death, held on April 5, at Preston Coroner’s Court found Dorothy’s death was contributed to by an absence of pressure care planning by qualified staff, although she ultimately died from a stroke.

Dr Adeley, said he was sufficiently concerned with the management of the District Nursing Service that he would issue a rare Regulation 28 letter to the Director of Nursing at Blackpool Victoria Hospitals NHS Trust copied to the Chief Executive, Medical Director and Care Quality Commission stating that from the evidence given at the inquest the care provided is unfit for service.  

Regulation 28 of the Coroner’s Rules allows a coroner to make a report to prevent other deaths. 

In addition, the coroner said he would be referring the district nurse to the NMC because her “conduct in court and general disregard for the guidance whilst in a position of supervision causes me sufficient concern.” 

Dorothy’s daughter, Julie Creasey, welcomed the referral, saying she hoped lives would be saved as a result.

“My mum was supposed to be in the best possible hands,” said Julie.

“We thought by putting her in Morvern’s care she’d get the best care for her dementia. But she seemed to deteriorate so quickly.

“We wanted to know how she could go from being very mobile, albeit dealing with Dementia, to being unable to do anything for herself in such a short space of time. We didn’t understand how she was able to get such awful pressure sores when she had two carers charged with looking after her while she was at Morvern.

“We feel we now have those answers and hope that by highlighting the lack of pressure care planning and the conduct of the district nurse, lives will be saved.”

Expert Opinion

“Putting Dorothy into residential care was a big decision for her family, and one made to ensure she received the best possible care for her dementia in her twilight years.

“Dorothy’s daughter Julie feels as though her mother was let down and has struggled to come to terms with the decision the family made which ultimately saw her admitted to Morvern Care Centre.

“Dorothy’s family is still picking up the pieces after her death and is hoping that the issues highlighted by the coroner and his decision to contact the CQC, among others regarding the District Nursing Service mean others will not suffer as Dorothy did.” Rebecca Brown - Senior Associate

Morvern Care Centre is described on its website as having been a “pioneer high standard elderly, general, residential and dementia residents care provider since 1982.”

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