A Hove councillor and former carer has criticised a sheltered home in Brighton after it emerged that a resident who died had not been seen for 24 hours.
Councillor Dawn Barnett, who worked as a carer for nearly 40 years, spoke out after an inquest heard evidence about the death of Herbert Rogers, 74, of Leach Court, Brighton.
She said that it was disgraceful that a visit from carers had been missed and as a result he was not seen for a whole day.
Mr Rogers, a former caretaker at Leach Court, had a fall and was found semi-conscious, Councillor Barnett said.
He died five days later, suffering from pneumonia and liver failure, although Brighton Coroner’s Court was told that no one could be certain that the two events were linked.
Councillor Barnett said that Mr Rogers was supposed to have two 15-minute visits a day from carers but added: “Two 15-minute visits a day is an absolute disgrace. That gentleman had dementia. He was so very vulnerable. What is this country coming to?
“I was a carer for nearly 40 years and it was what it should have been about – proper care in the community. Now it’s just basic needs met. Two 15-minute calls a day are not enough.
“By the time the carer’s got their coat off and made a cup of tea it’s time to go again.
Councillor Barnett was also concerned that Mr Rogers was wearing a hospital wristband and pyjamas from when he was discharged weeks before his final fall.
She said: “The fact he had his tag on from the hospital makes me think he’s never had a proper wash.
“Some of these poor people have got no family to speak up for them. Some of these people have been through the war and fought for their country and this is how they get treated.
“Someone needs to go round to make sure they’re getting the proper care.”
She said that someone should check on vulnerable residents regularly and routinely.
The inquest will resume in March.
I can vouch for Dawn Barnett`s comment as I worked along side Dawn for a council that really cared.Care for the elderly and vulnerable really changed when Brighton and Hove City Council “farmed out” care leaving a much smaller in house service. I retired two years ago . We all had phones and had to use them to swipe the recording book in the service users home ,which immediately alerted the office that we were with the service user . If that didn`t happen steps were taken to find out why . The same procedure was used when the care was finnished. Our office knew where we were and how long the call took . As far as I know they still used that system .
It is a sad World when Carers spend more time travelling than they do ‘Caring’.
Tip of the iceberg sadly. The excess death rates among people in “temporary, emergency” accommodation in revolting privately run HMOs that Caroline Lucas has highlighted is ignored.
“It’s not about budgets. They find plenty to spend on other things.” Then she slags off council staff trying desperately to do their jobs with reduced numbers, many of whom are being sacked, whilst the work is given to private providers making profits and caring about nothing else.
Dawn Bartlett knows that local government is only just beginning devastating local government cuts, whilst the rich have had their taxes cut by 9 billion. A Conservative councillor apparently doesn’t know the Party she stands for are in charge of it all, and throws up her hands in horror. (Really? Don’t make me laugh, Dawn.) This is vilest hypocrisy, because people like that poor man are suffering and dying.
She shouldn’t get away with it.
I feel like there is a silent cull of elderly and disabled prople happening, effected by the simple means of not providing whatever is needed.