Hospital trust admits failings after elderly father died hungry, thirsty and alone

Vincent died at Heartlands Hospital in Bordesley Green, Birmingham on 4 April 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The father of three and former Fisher & Ludlow (now Jaguar) employee had lived with dementia and other health conditions since 2013. He moved into Bromford Lane Care Centre in 2018, where he required one-to-one assistance due to the severity of his illness and his high risk of aspiration when eating and drinking.

In late March 2020, shortly after the first national lockdown began, Vincent developed a cough and fever. He was admitted to Heartlands Hospital on 28 March 2020 and later tested positive for Covid-19.

During his final days in hospital, Vincent’s daughter Jane Roche raised repeated concerns about her father’s care. Nutrition and hydration records show that in the days before his death, Vincent was offered little or no food or fluids.  

On 3 April 2020, after heading to hospital, Jane discovered her dad’s condition had significantly deteriorated, and that he was unconscious, gasping for breath and had lost a lot of weight. Medical records from the same day noted Vincent’s coffee-stained clothes – suggesting he had attempted to drink an unthickened cup of coffee which had been left at his bedside despite his well-known swallowing difficulties. He died in the early hours of 4 April 2020.

Jane alleged that the hospital failed to protect Vincent by ensuring he was safely fed, hydrated, and protected from aspiration. 

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has admitted liability in relation to leaving an unthickened cup of coffee near Vincent, which after being aspirated led to him developing pneumonia and subsequently dying.  

Vincent’s daughter Jane is represented by Lucie Boase, human rights solicitor at law firm Leigh Day.

Jane Roche said:

“My dad was a strong, loving man with an incredible zest for life. He wasn’t in the best of health, but he still made everyone laugh and still had his dry sense of humour.

“My dad needed patient and careful support, and I was always by his side during hospital stays to make sure he was understood. But when Covid restrictions kept me away, he was left neglected. I believe he died hungry, thirsty, and confused, wondering where I was. No family should ever go through what we did. I want the truth about what happened to be recognised, so lessons are learned, and other families are spared this pain.”

Lucie Boase said:

“This was a deeply avoidable tragedy. Vincent was extremely vulnerable and entirely dependent on those entrusted with his care. Instead of being protected, there were issues around accessing food and drink, and he was left at risk of aspiration. Though the admission of liability from the Trust is a significant step towards accountability, sadly it comes too late for Vincent and his family.”