Alzheimers patient neglected at care home
VS, aged 88, was residing at a specialist care centre in Batley due to her Alzheimer’s disease. Her family visited regularly, but as they were located abroad, it was trusted that she would receive adequate care at the centre and that they would see to her needs.
In January 2008, VS was left on a commode of boiling water by a nurse. The care notes suggested that this was done in an effort to ease constipation. Due to her communication and mobility difficulties, VS couldn’t raise alarm or move from the boiling water and remained there for approximately eight minutes, causing her to suffer 4% full thickness burns to her buttocks and thighs. The burns were so severe that VS required debridement and skin grafts from her right thigh to her buttocks area under general anaesthetic. She was left fragile and understandably distressed with no trust in the nursing staff around her.
The nurse involved and two carers who were responsible for this were suspended, and a review of their conduct was made by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
Due to VS’s Alzheimer’s disease, a claim was brought on her behalf by her Son, with assistance from James Thompson and other Solicitors from the Medical Law and Patient’s Rights team at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in Leeds. The Defendant made an offer of £8,750 in settlement of the claim which was accepted by the family on the basis that the money would be used to purchase specialist equipment for VS and to assist with her care needs throughout the remainder of her life.