Doting Velma’s care home fury

Mickie and Velma Taylor

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A HEARTBROKEN wife is demanding answers amid claims that her brain-injured husband suffered neglect at an Oldham care home.

Velma Taylor from Chadderton says when she collected her husband Mickie (46) from his first respite stay in 19 years at Treelands Care Home in Fitton Hill, he was wearing a “filthy” pyjama top over his clothes and the clothes in which he had arrived two days earlier.

She later discovered he hadn’t been given all his medication, which is vital to control seizures — and items she had sent for his personal care hadn’t been touched.

Velma (58) has cared for Mickie since he suffered horrific injuries in a car accident, and this was the first time she had accepted respite.

To make matters worse she feels guilty she didn’t visit him on the Saturday of his weekend stay - because a sick relative needed her urgently.

“When I visited Treelands I thought what a lovely, clean, caring place it looked. How deceptive appearances can be,” Velma said.

“When I went to pick him up on Sunday they said he’d been smashing and really happy - but when I saw him I couldn’t believe it. He was wearing his pyjama top, which was absolutely filthy, on top of the same clothes he’d arrived in.

“I was so angry and upset I just brought him home. Later that night I realised they hadn’t given him one of his sleeping tablets, which control the seizures he has in his sleep.

“They obviously hadn’t attempted to wash him or dress him - he puts clothes on top of clothes so they must have left him to put his pyjamas on.

“I have cared for Mickie on my own and struggled and fought to keep him healthy all these years. For this care home to neglect him on his first visit is horrifying and so upsetting.

Velma has made an official complaints about Treelands to Oldham Council and the Care Quality Commission.

She said: “I only put him in respite because the doctor said I needed to. I now feel guilty for sending him there. I’m not sure I’d ever trust anywhere to look after him again.”

The home, owned by Middlesex-based company Handsale Ltd, was criticised in 2009 under a different ownership for a damning catalogue of abuse and neglect claims.

Handsale managing director Rishi Sodha, said: “We would like to echo the sentiments given to Mr and Mrs Taylor by our home manager that we are sorry she and her husband are feeling distressed.”

He said a full investigation is now underway.

The CQC is now investigating Velma’s complaint, and Councillor Jenny Harrison, cabinet member for social care, added: “We’re taking this matter extremely seriously by carrying out an investigation, and working with Mrs Taylor to find alternative care for her husband.”