A
doctor couple have been
struck off the medical register for
neglecting elderly patients in their care at a nursing home in
Birmingham. Doctors
Jamalapuram Hari Gopal and his wife,
Pratury Samrajya Lakshmi, ran the now defunct
Maypole nursing home in Kings Heath. Dr Gopal also acted as GP to the residents there: a dual role frowned upon by the
General Medical Council (GMC).
The
Maypole nursing home first came to the attention of the authorities when a resident choked to death. During a subsequent multi-agency review it was discovered that there had been a high number of deaths at the home – 28 within two years. Serious concerns were voiced about care standards, and a number of the deaths were referred to the
Birmingham Coroner. The Coroner decided not to hold an inquest, but suggested there should be a public enquiry into wider questions thrown up by the affair.
Leigh Day comment
Solicitor Alison Millar in the Human Rights Department comments on the case:
“Although the Coroner found no evidence that any of these deaths were caused deliberately or unlawfully, this was clearly a most shocking and tragic case. The General Medical Council were told how there had been, “a catalogue of incidents caused by a lack of investment of time, interest and money”. These endangered the very vulnerable people in Doctors Gopal and Lakshmi’s care.
“Whilst this may be quite an extreme case, sadly the concerns it raises are far from unique. We are contacted by relatives or friends of older people in residential care who are concerned that poorly run care homes have put their loved ones at risk. We strongly agree that there needs to be public debate about this.”
Leigh Day & Co has recently helped a family investigate a care home death:
Mrs Vivian Read - inquest case
Mrs
Vivian Read was a former Army nursing sister who was resident in the private
Westergate House Care Home, Denmans Lane, Fontwell, West Sussex. The Coroner for West Sussex mentioned how she had been a lady liked by all. She was an active lady who became immobile and had developed the awful complication of pressure sores on her bottom and legs.
Following Mrs Read’s death of
septicaemia on 20 June 2005, her case was referred to the Coroner because of concerns that infection from the pressure sores may have been responsible. Mrs Read had a number of pressure sores, some of which were very deep and severe.
Pressure sores
The Coroner focused his inquiry on the pressure sores, the development of which was clearly a source of concern. He heard evidence from Mrs Read’s family of their concerns about the management and running of the care home since it was taken over by
Barchester Healthcare in late 2002. Mrs Read’s two daughters were very concerned that their mother’s care had been compromised by inadequate attention to her
nutrition and
hydration, and a lack of turning (the records of which the Coroner noted to be incomplete). They were also worried that pressure-relieving aids had not been properly maintained.
Coroner's verdict
The inquest was heard on 19th January 2006. The verdict the Coroner for West Sussex reached was as follows:
“At 22.45 pm on 20 June 2005 at
Westergate House Care Home, Denmans Lane, Fontwell, West Sussex, the deceased, a lady of 89 years, who had sustained pressure ulcers, died of septicaemia (of unknown origin) in the presence of a urinary tract infection and bronchopneumonia”.
This recognised that there were potential sources other than the sores for the fatal septicaemia: an infection of the urinary tract or lungs. In his summary of the evidence, the Coroner stated that he was sure that certain lessons have been and will be learned from the situation described in Mrs Read’s case. Mrs Read’s family feel that it was important that the concerning circumstances of Mrs Read’s death were publicly investigated and that there was formal recognition that Mrs Read had sustained pressure injuries in the verdict the Coroner reached.
The family of Mrs Read were advised and assisted by Alison Millar in the Human Rights Department.
For further information, please contact Alison Millar on 0207 650 124.
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details.