Nurse challenges ‘best of care’ claim for dying OAP

An 86-year-old woman who died from infected bedsores was not seen by a doctor for nearly a month after the wounds were found by Highland care-home staff, a fatal accident inquiry heard yesterday.

A specialist nurse also told the hearing she felt the pensioner lacked basic nursing care at the Wyvis House Care Home in Dingwall.

Staff at the care home noted the sores on Jamesina Mackenzie on April 3, 2009.

But the inquiry heard the retired vet, originally from Torridon, Wester Ross, was not seen by a GP until April 30. The medic recommended continuing the current treatment of dressing the wound and turning the patient. On May 8, Miss Mackenzie was seen by a specialist vascular nurse, Delia Law, based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, at the request of care-home staff.