Radford Care Home Criticised

A “FRUSTRATED” coroner has criticised a care home during an inquest into the death of a former patient.

Catherine Mason, deputy coroner for Notts, adjourned the inquest into the death of 91-year-old James Coffey because the Churchfield Park Care Home, Radford, had failed to get legal representation.

Instead, former manager Sheila Graham was sent to the inquest unprepared.

Mrs Mason said it was “immensely frustrating” and had caused “distress and upset” to Mr Coffey’s family.

The inquest previously heard that Mr Coffey had a range of illnesses, including pneumonia, Parkinson’s syndrome and influenza A when he died at the Queen’s Medical Centre on December 27, 2006.

Mrs Mason questioned Mrs Graham about a “pressure sore” found on Mr Coffey’s buttock which had not been picked up in nurses’ notes from the home.

But she adjourned the inquest when it became clear Mrs Graham would not be able to fully represent the home – which she stopped working for a year ago.

Mrs Mason told the inquest: “The evidence was going down a route not previously anticipated.

“There is a possibility that the care that was afforded to Mr Coffey may have been brought into question and it may, or may not have a bearing on the cause of death, I don’t know until I’ve heard all the evidence.

“It does cause me immense frustration that I have to adjourn this inquest because Churchfield Care Home have had notice of this inquest for a long time. I am upset by this and the further distress and upset it causes to Mr Coffey’s family.”

The inquest was adjourned until April 1.