Care home manager accused of neglecting Gladys, 84

Apr 24 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

A CARE home manager deliberately neglected an elderly, schizophrenic patient who died five weeks after moving into the nursing home, a court has heard.

Debra Richards, 45, is accused of failing in her duty of care towards 84-year-old Gladys Thomas leading up to Miss Thomas’ death in October 2005.

Richards, of Brynawel, Bedwas, near Caerphilly, went on trial yesterday at Newport Crown Court with seven other workers at Bryngwyn nursing home, Newbridge. They all deny wilful neglect.

The prosecution claims Miss Thomas, originally from Bedlinog, near Merthyr Tydfil, was either mistreated or neglected and was admitted to hospital with a broken rib, collar bone and severe bruising to her lower back, abdomen and groin.

She died at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, eight days later.

Prosecutor Gerard Elias QC said: “There’s no innocent explanation for the fractured collar bone and extensive bruising to the right chest wall, the right arm, her groin or the possible ligature mark. The injuries were caused by either physical abuse or a lack of adequate protection by care home staff – that is, she was allowed to fall.”

Unmarried Miss Thomas, who also had dementia and heart problems, transferred to Bryngwyn in September 2005 having spent eight years at a nursing home in Swansea where, according to niece Esme Williams, she “seemed to be fine”.

Ms Williams, of Nelson, herself a former nursing assistant, said in evidence: “I had no worries about the care she received there. She was looked after very well.”

But 10 days after she first arrived at Bryngwyn, Miss Thomas was admitted to hospital. The court was told she was discharged but readmitted soon after when care home staff called an ambulance claiming Miss Thomas had trouble breathing.

However, the jury of eight women and four men was told paramedics Kevin O’Connor and Stephen Hall found no such difficulties.

“It was evident Gladys wasn’t suffering from breathing problems at all,” said Mr Elias. “What they did see were fresh marks of what they believe to be a ligature on her right forearm – something had been tied around her.”

The court heard a panel of nursing and medical experts investigated Miss Thomas’ care following her death and branded her injuries “significant and inexcusable”.

Mr Elias said: “The opinion of one expert was that the standard of care received was of such a poor state that no competent or reasonable nurse at the relevant time could have believed they were giving an acceptable standard of care.”

One former Bryngwyn nurse – John Barry Alder – has pleaded guilty to neglect on the basis of not administering Miss Thomas the correct medication.

In addition to Richards, carer Evan Green, 35, of Gaynors, Fairwater, Cwmbran; nurse John Ajewole, 53, of Victoria Terrace, Newbridge; nurse Ebenezer Ajiwe, 48, of Woodland Terrace, Abercarn; senior carer Peter Booth, 35, of Pen y Van Close, Newbridge; carer Tahir Hayat, 30, of Coldra Road, Newport; carer Angela Johnson, 37, of Hector Avenue, Crumlin; and nurse Shibu Joseph, 32, of Gaer Park Drive, Newport, all deny charges of neglect.

The trial was due to continue today.

ben.glaze@mediawales.co.uk