Leading Elder Abuse Lawyer Claims an 'Epidemic' of abuse & Neglect in UK Care Homes
07/06/2007
'Epidemic' of abuse & Neglect in UK Care Homes
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Stephanie, Cheshire
A leading
elder abuse lawyer has called for there to be stricter safeguards
around care home management and swifter action by the CSCI (Commission
for Social Care Inspection) to stop an 'epidemic of abuse and neglect'
in the nations care homes.
Care Home Abuse
Speaking on
the day that the body of Nellie "Mary" Pickford, 89, is exhumed as part
of an inquiry into suspicious deaths at Parkfields residential home in
Somerset, Jonathan Peacock from law firm Irwin Mitchell has warned that
more needs to be done to ensure the most vulnerable in society are
cared for.
Neglect in UK Care Homes
Mr Peacock is
currently representing the family of Lesley Vines who died aged 77 just
ten days after being admitted to Birmingham's Maypole Nursing Home, in
their High Court battle to challenge a Coroner's decision not to hold
an inquest into their father's death. If successful the inquests into
what are believed to be 16 other suspicious deaths of residents at the
home will also be considered.
Mr Peacock, a Partner at National law firm Irwin Mitchell, said:
"We
believe that the CSCI need to show more teeth, and take proactive steps
in intervening in care homes shown to be lacking proper standards of
care for the most vulnerable members of society. Whilst we recognise
their actions in the investigation into the Parkfields residential
home, we believe that in many other cases they have not acted soon
enough to meet the concerns of residents and their families."
"These
people deserve the very highest standards of care and nothing should be
put before resident's safety and quality of life."
The Maypole
Nursing home was run by two doctors Dr Jamalapuram Hari Gopal and his
wife Pratury Samrajya Lakshmi who were both struck off after a GMC
hearing in January 2006, which found them guilty of serious
professional misconduct and their actions were deemed "inappropriate,
irresponsible and inadequate". The private nursing home was forced to
shut in March 2003 after an unannounced inspection.
27 patients
died at the home during 2002, which was registered to look after only
36 elderly and mentally infirm patients. This compares with 8 deaths
during 2001. 80% of the death certificates gave Broncho-Pneumonia as a
cause of death, these were written by the two doctors who both
financially benefited from the home and were responsible for the
well-being of patients.
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