Dementia patient locked in cupboard for 3 hours

AN ELDERLY woman with dementia was locked for between two and three hours in a storage area known as “the attic” in a Dundee care home, a hearing was told yesterday.

The woman, referred to as Resident A, was found lying on the concrete floor inside the space at Ballumbie Court care home after the staff nurse in charge accidentally locked her in.

Malcolm Logie, appeared before the Conduct and Competence committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in Edinburgh, which will rule whether he is still fit to practise.

Care home worker Sam Mawhinney, who was also on duty, revealed that Resident A had been found lying on the floor in the attic at midnight, about two to three hours after Mr Logie had locked the door.

He said: “It was noticed that resident A was missing. We thought we had better check the attic and that is when we went to the attic to retrieve the lady.”

He said that although the woman was lying on the floor she did not appear to be injured.Mr Logie admits not informing other nursing staff about the incident and not filling in the accident logbook. He also failed to take steps to let the resident’s next of kin know she had fallen.

Gillian McKendrick-Brown, who was the home manager at the time, told the hearing she had only found out what had happened after other members of staff complained.

“Members of staff were unhappy because nothing seemed to be done about it,” she said.

She said Mr Logie had been suspended for gross misconduct. She added: “In my opinion he failed to follow company policy and procedure but was also negligent.”

Solicitor Neil Moloney said Mr Logie admitted the facts of the incident but felt he was still fit to practise. The case continues.