Inquest Hears Failures In Care Were Identified In Care Quality Commission Report

The widow of a man who died after failings in his care at a Thirsk care home says more must be done to ensure that care home residents are properly and adequately cared for after an Inquest heard a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found a plethora of issues.

Albert Pooley, from Thirsk, was admitted to Sowerby House Care Home in December 2015, until 29th April, 2016, when he was transferred to Friarage Hospital, Northallerton and sadly died.

Albert passed away on the 1st May, 2016, aged 89, but his widow, Kathleen, instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the care and treatment of her husband at the care home after a CQC report into Albert’s death found that the care he received was ‘inadequate’.

Following a joint investigation by the CQC and North Yorkshire Police, an inquest into Albert’s death at the Evolution Centre, Northallerton, took place this week. Albert’s death was referred to HM Coroner because it was one of three separate Adult Safeguarding referrals to Social Services from the same care home.

The inquest heard how the CQC report highlighted a string of concerns over the care Albert received including the service not being safe, led well or caring and being ineffective with a lack of competent staff to meet patient’s needs. It also found Albert’s medication was not properly administered, and that patients in general were not assisted with basic care needs.

The coroner today concluded that the standard of care afforded to Albert when he was at Sowerby House was below the standard expected of a nursing home.

Michelle Thomson, a specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “The family are obviously devastated by Albert’s death. Kathleen has recalled to me the doubts she had over the care that her husband was receiving at Sowerby House Care Home and the CQC report into his death unfortunately validates these doubts.

“The Care Home needs to ensure it learns from its mistakes but it can’t do that unless it acts with transparency when things go wrong. The family hopes that lessons will now be learned to improve care for others.”

While Albert was a resident at Sowerby House Care Home, he repeatedly contracted urinary tract infections, chest infections and lost over 10kg in weight. All of these issues gave Kathleen grounds for concern.

Kathleen said: “I hope that lessons are learnt from Albert’s death and that more is done to ensure that care home residents receive the appropriate level of care that they need and are entitled to.”