Pontcanna House: Cardiff council supporting residents

Residents are being offered support at a care home where a 96-year-old woman died in an incident believed to have involved a lift shaft.

Police were called to the private Pontcanna House residential home in Llandaff Road, Canton, on Tuesday morning.

A member of staff was also injured and received hospital treatment.

Cardiff council does not run the home but said it was doing all it could to support residents.

It is working with South Wales Police to establish what happened.

The dead woman was a resident at the home, which specialises in the care of older people with dementia.

Staff and residents were said to be deeply shocked.

Both the council and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate (CSSIW) Wales have described the incident as tragic.

Police said they were called shortly before 09:20 GMT on Tuesday, following reports that a 96-year-old woman had died after an incident in the home.

‘Offering support’

“The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation is under way into her death,” said police.

Next of kin and the coroner have been informed.

A Cardiff council spokesperson said: “As the enforcing authority, environmental health officers from public protection are currently working with South Wales Police investigating a fatality at a privately owned residential care home in Cardiff.”

In a statement CSSIW said police and the Health and Safety Executive would be leading the initial investigations.

“The local authority is offering support to residents, families and staff who have all been deeply shocked by this incident,” said a spokesperson.

An inspection report in 2010 said the home accommodated 31 people in the category of dementia care for older people.