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Rita Smith’s son Barry with his wife Maria |
‘Neglect’ led to tragic death of woman, 85
Council and NHS to investigate care
A JOINT investigation has been launched into the death of an 85-year-old woman who died covered in sores, following criticism by a coroner who said elements of her care featured neglect.
Islington Council and the NHS Trust have launched the inquiry after St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard yesterday (Thursday) how Rita Smith died on June 26 following months of inadequate care.
The inquest was told that Mrs Smith, who also suffered from arthritis and diabetes, was visited four times daily in her home in Hornsey Rise by a carer who was responsible for cleaning her wounds.
She also received daily visits from nurses from NHS Islington.
But when her 55-year-old son, Barry, visited Mrs Smith, on June 25, he was so worried about her condition he called an ambulance.
She died just after 6pm the following day at the Whittington Hospital in Archway.
Clarissa Murdock, consultant physician at the Whittington, said she was alarmed by Mrs Smith’s condition when she was brought in.
“I was surprised when I assessed Rita myself that I found her legs to be in a very dirty, unkempt state,” she said.
“It was not just the dressings that were soiled, or the legs themselves, but there was a thickening of the skin which would have taken a long time to accumulate.”
When carer Mopelola Tonyia visited on June 25 she found Mrs Smith, who weighed around 18 stone, unable to get out of her chair to be bathed.
Ms Tonyia said she made two calls to her superiors requesting help but received no reply.
She also called Barry, who found her in a rapidly deteriorating condition.
The court heard that Mrs Smith had a number of ulcers on her legs and one large ulcer on her bottom.
She had previously been living in Nairn House nursing home in Enfield until she discharged herself voluntarily in June 2006.
Mr Smith said he was unhappy about her going home as he felt she needed 24-hour care, but said she was determined.
Islington Social Services initially provided two carers for the morning visits but reduced this to one in the months before her death.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid recorded “natural causes” as his primary verdict but said there was a “degree of neglect” that contributed to the death.
He said: “There was a gross lack of medical attention in some aspects of her care plan.
“Looking back it probably means that Mrs Smith’s care plan was not adequate and was failing.”
Speaking outside the court, Mr Smith said: “I knew she wasn’t being cared for properly.”
Sean McLaughlin, director of Housing and Adult Social Services for Islington Council, said: “The council and NHS Islington have agreed a joint investigation under the Adult Safeguarding procedures.
“This is an independent investigation, and it will report to the Islington Adults Safeguarding Partnership Board, which has an independent chair. We are keen to learn from this very sad event what changes we need to make together.” |
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