Carry on Matron! … Guilty Of Care Home Neglect, She Is Told: It’s OK To Work

Furious relatives today hit out at a decision to let a matron carry on nursing after she was found guilty of neglecting patients.

{mosimage}Patricia Linda Parker, 59, of Halifax, who is still matron at Laurel Bank Nursing Home, Holmfield, Halifax, was given a five-year caution but allowed to continue nursing after admitting misconduct.

Deputy matron Elisabeth Uttley was found guilty of three charges of misconduct and struck off. The 62-year-old from Sowerby Bridge, who has retired, did not attend the four-day hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Con-duct Committee.

A daughter of one elderly patient described the decison as “disgusting”. And in a separate development today, it emerged the home’s owner had warned other staff about phoning sex lines while on duty.

Relatives of the three ex-residents – Lily Leatham, 83, Agnes Moore, 69, and Ivy McGuire, who was 78 when she died in 2004 – said they were devastated. Mrs Leatham’s daughter, Marilyn Hartley, said: “This was never a witch hunt. It was to highlight the abuse and neglect suffered by our mum. These nurses were entrusted to care for her and failed.

“It was said that what happened to Mum was serious, sustained and systematic. If Mrs Parker goes back to Laurel Bank, I do hope the residents are looked after.”

Her sister, Diane Newman, said: “I would have preferred Parker to be struck off as well. My mum lay in a hospital bed for 89 days due to the abuse and neglect she suffered while she was in Laurel Bank.” Mandy Hirst, Mrs Moore’s daughter, said: “I think it is absolutely disgusting. There are no laws to protect elderly people.”

Mrs Leatham’s granddaughter, Celia Cross, a nurse, said: “I am not particularly proud of my professional governing body. I don’t think they have sent out the correct message.”

The misconduct arose from three charges of failing to provide adequate care and one of failing to ensure an adequate supply of incontinence pads.

The hearing was told of a raft of neglect, including how double amputee Mrs Moore was found on her bed with a towel between her legs when incontinence pads ran out.

Lily Leatham spent weeks in hospital after staying in Laurel Bank. Her weight dropped to five stones and she suffered horrific pressure sores.

Earlier, Alex Foster, for Mrs Parker, told the hearing in Bradford: “In the best part of 42 years of nursing there has been no other complaint against her.” He handed in grateful letters from other residents’ relatives and references from nurses, a GP and the owner of Laurel Bank, Christopher Bolland.

Mr Foster said relatives of Mrs Moore and Mrs Leatham had conducted a “witch hunt” in the media. “They seek to use these proceedings to hang, draw and quarter Mrs Parker.”

He said the requirements of the care homes watchdog, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) were now being met.

“There have been ongoing improvements in the systems employed by the home. The communication channels are much more open,” he said.

Chairman of the panel Anne Kelly told Mrs Parker: “You failed to identify and minimise the risks to the residents.”

The panel decided there was no continued risk to patients in Mrs Parker’s care and she had not abused her position or trust. They accepted she had acknowledged her failings, apologised and tried to turn the home around. Ms Kelly said there was no evidence Mrs Uttley had taken corrective steps.

David Glendinning, for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said: “These failures were serious, systematic and sustained.”

Today it was reported owner Mr Bolland warned employees they would be disciplined if they continued to use the office phone to call sex lines.

The disclosure came in a memo to staff.