A daughter has detailed the moment her 'heart broke' after hearing her mum ask 'what have I done to deserve this?' during her time at a Liverpool care home.
Belle Vale pensioner Sylvia Flynn, 84, who had been suffering from dementia , died on June 28 2020. An inquest heard that the medical cause of death was infected pressure ulceration and bronchopneumonia.
The inquest heard that Mrs Flynn was admitted to Whiston hospital after falling at home in December 2019. On March 5 2020 she was moved to Croxteth Park Care Home, just before the UK went into lockdown.
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On March 11 2020 Mrs Flynn was found to be at moderate risk of developing pressure sores on her body. The court heard that the levels of care provided to Mrs Flynn were inadequate.
She was provided with an airflow mattress but at times care home staff did not ensure that it was switched on. The inquest heard that Mrs Flynn then suffered from a new set of pressure ulcers which became infected.
The pressure ulcers reduced her ability to cope with bronchopneumonia. On June 9 2020 she was moved to Redholme Memory Care home where she died on June 28 2020.
On September 1, senior coroner Andre Rebello recorded a verdict of natural causes in part because of missed opportunities to implement preventative measures to mitigate against the development of fatal pressure ulcers and bronchopneumonia.
Liverpool Council arranged the placement at Croxteth Park care home, which was run by the Four Seasons Group.
The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman published draft decision dated 28 May 2021 which read: "Provisionally, there were multiple failures in the deceased's care at a council-funded care home, including an avoidable serious deep tissue injury. The council needs to apologise and make her daughter Mrs X a symbolic payment to reflect her avoidable distress."
Sandra Bennett, Sylvia's daughter, said: "I had concerns on her first weekend in Croxteth Park home. Mum had mild dementia but you could still have a conversation with her. No one deserves the treatment she received.
"Within two weeks Covid struck and the care home went into lock down. Every time I called she was asleep. I had to insist they woke her up .
"Mum shouted out more and more but she didn't understand where I had gone. Staff weren't trained in dementia care and a domestic carer was looking after my mum. Mum said to me 'what have I done to deserve this.' That sentence just breaks my heart, she was left sitting there in wet pads.
"There was no pressure relief and she gained multiple sores which went down to her hip bone. My mum fell out of bed three times. She could not lift her head due to the medication which made her sleep.
"My mum must have been in so much pain and thought I'd left her. When mum was transferred she was too weak to fight the infection . I was able to see mum in her last hours when I told her how much I loved her.
"Dementia patients are so vulnerable and we need to protect them. I made sure CQC inspected the home and have kept on top of their recommendations. Mum has gone but we need to protect others."
A spokesperson from Four Seasons Health Care, who run Croxteth Park Care Home, said: “We send our sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Flynn following her passing in June 2020. The local safeguarding team has received our full cooperation with their inquiry and we have addressed the concerns raised by the family during her stay at our home.
"We take all complaints very seriously and acknowledge that in this instance our care did not meet our usual high standard. As ever, the safety and wellbeing of our residents is our number one priority.”
Liverpool Council, who arranged the placement at the care home, wrote to Sandra Flynn to apologise. The letter read: "The Ombudsman’s report found multiple failings with how Croxteth Park provided your mother’s care, including how they managed an avoidable serious deep tissue injury.
"As we arranged your mother’s placement at the home I am very sorry. We are committed to supporting care homes to deliver the best quality care across the city, and I am sorry that during your mother’s stay at Croxteth Park she was not provided with the standard of care we expect."
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said to the ECHO: “We are very sorry about the circumstances surrounding the death of Sylvia Flynn. Last year we wrote to the family to apologise for the failings in care at Croxteth Park Care Home, and have also implemented the Ombudsman’s recommendations in full.”
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