Police probe claim of neglect at care home

Edge Hill Rest Home

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A WOMAN whose mother died at a care home that was put into special measures by the health watchdog claims her life ended in "fear and misery".

Edge Hill Rest Home in Royton is being investigated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) over serious concerns about the standard of care provided to pensioners, many of whom have dementia.

As previously reported by the Chronicle, it has been placed into special measures after being branded "inadequate". Police and council bosses are now investigating neglect allegations.

Gillian Bridge, whose mother Merlyn Ousey died at the home, has made a series of claims about her mother's time at Edge Hill in Oldham Road. Mrs Bridge said her mother died in "fear and misery", "looking like a skeleton", weighing only six stone.

She claims Mrs Ousey, who died of acute kidney failure, was often left sitting in a chair for long periods, and once spent many hours alone in her room without enough fluids.

Mrs Bridge kept a diary of what she says she saw at the home. She believes there is a "culture of bullying" at Edge Hill. She said her mother was scared of management, and claimed some members of staff appeared to be afraid of bosses.

CQC bosses said there were "poor staffing levels" when inspectors visited and workers were often stretched. The report read: "There were not always sufficient staff to provide prompt care and support to people. Lack of a timely staff response to people's request for support and assistance at such times compromises their dignity."

Mrs Bridge said her mother was regularly given sandwiches for dinner and often went 12 hours without food.

She said her mother was often left sitting in the lounge for hours and had nothing to do. CQC bosses said there were not sufficient and meaningful activities for residents and many didn't have the opportunity to socialise.

CQC inspectors said they saw one resident in the communal lounge call out five times for assistance to be taken to the toilet.

Mrs Bridge said she saw residents in a public area crying and pleading for food and water, with staff often too stretched to cope.

She said the member of staff who dealt with her mother when she died was not properly trained, and that they appeared not to know the correct processes. CQC bosses said they were concerned about "poor training".

Bed sores

Mrs Bridge put her mother, who suffered from dementia, into the home in November 2015. She died aged 85 a year later.

Mrs Bridge said she often found her mother slumped in a chair, looking "miserable and grey" and dehydrated.

She said most of her mother's clothes went missing when staff did the laundry, with items getting mixed up between residents. She eventually stepped in to do it herself.

Mrs Ousey, it is claimed, was often in bed for hours on end, and suffered from horrendous bed sores, which left her "crying and whimpering" in pain in the last few weeks of her life.

CQC bosses raised concerns about the way residents were moved in bed and handled.

The report read: "On one occasion a person had to wait for 40 minutes before there were staff available to assist them to change their position."

Mrs Bridge, who has raised safeguarding concerns with Oldham Council, said: "It was pure neglect. I never had an issue with the staff, they were fantastic in difficult conditions.

"Mum had always been such a lively person, she never complained about anything. It was torture seeing her like that. But we were frightened to complain."

She added: "If I help one person, if one person doesn't have to go through what my mum went through, it will be worth it. I don't want anyone else to suffer like my mum did."

Oldham Council bosses have been working with the home, the CQC, Pennine Care community nurses and the Public Health Infection Control service to make improvements at Edge Hill. An action plan is in place, with officers visiting the home weekly.

Edge Hill has not responded to the latest claims but previously told the Chronicle the CQC report was "not a true reflection of how the home runs."

Councillor Jenny Harrison, cabinet member for social care and safeguarding, said: "We are aware of the concerns raised and have been dealing with the family member and the care home owner. Investigations are ongoing and we are working with the care home to ensure acceptable standards of care."

A CQC spokesman said: "The CQC is aware of the concerns passed to us by a member of the public about Edge Hill Rest Home. Information from the public is very important."

A police spokesman said: "We have received a report of neglect and officers are investigating."