Negligence at Birmingham nursing home
Throughout 2002 twenty seven residents died at the Maypole Nursing Home in Birmingham. The home, owned by Dr Hari Gopal and wife, Dr Pratury Lakshmi, housed vulnerable elderly residents and closed in March 2003.
The family of 77 year old Leslie Vines who died at the Maypole Nursing Home on 7 September 2002 was represented by specialist clinical negligence solicitor, Victoria Blankstone.
80% of the death certificates written by Dr Gopal and Dr Lakshmi gave bronchopneumonia as a cause of death. The GMC’s Fitness to Practice Panel found that in their roles as both co-proprietor and general practitioner of the nursing home their actions were “inappropriate, irresponsible and inadequate” and were not in the best interests of the patients or the residents. In January 2006 both doctors were struck off the medical register.
In June 2008 three nurses, including Maypole Home manager Kathleen Smith, were also struck off. Commenting on a host of nursing failures, the NMC panel described Ms Smith’s attitude to an outbreak of scabies at the nursing home as “complacent,” and record keeping on patients’ pressure sores as “woeful.” Staff training at the home, which Nurse Smith was responsible for, was also condemned as being “very, very poor.”
Despite serious concerns following numerous investigations by statutory authorities, efforts to force an inquiry into Mr Vines’ death have been protracted, with Birmingham Coroner Aiden Cotter at first refusing to hold an inquest. In a landmark judicial review case, the High Court quashed the decision and the matter was reported to Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, who ordered that an inquest should now take place.
If you have suffered as a result of a medical accident or because of sub-standard care or management, the law can help you find out what happened and why, and in some cases recover compensation for your suffering. Contact us for further information.