Woman awarded £21,500 after her father died in care centre

A woman has been awarded £21,500 compensation after claiming that her father died up to a year earlier than expected due to injuries he sustained as a result of negligent nursing care.

Her father was 77 years old when he was admitted to the care centre. He was in a wheelchair due to a spinal tumour.

When he entered the care centre the staff suggested that he should be nursed on a pressure relieving mattress. However, he felt the soft mattress was uncomfortable and so he was nursed on a firmer one at his request.

Within a month he developed a sore on his sacrum, the bone at the base of the spine. He suffered chest pain and was taken to hospital.

The hospital found the man had a grade 4 pressure sore over his sacrum and a grade 3 to 4 pressure sore over his left foot/inner ankle.

He stayed in hospital for over two months. He still had a grade 3 to 4 pressure sore on his sacrum when he was discharged.

He returned to the care centre and after a few months he developed a urinary tract infection. This caused septic shock and he died.

His daughter brought action against the care centre. She claimed they were negligent in failing to advise her father that a firm divan could increase the risk of pressure sores.

She said they had also failed to monitor his condition regularly or implement a regular turning/repositioning programme. She believed that the pressure sores accelerated his death by 6 to 12 months.

The care centre disputed liability but agreed to an out-of-court settlement of £21,500.

David Kerry: “This is a very sad case in which it seems a man was not alerted to the fact that his choice of mattress could cause him serious problems in his weakened state. He had to endure unnecessary suffering in the final year of his life, which was distressing not only to him but to his family as well.”

For free and confidential legal advice…

Speak to our medico-legal advisers today.
Free advice service.

0800 037 8411
Email Medico-Legal advisers