Operation Jasmine inquiry: Justice demand over homes ‘neglect’

Families at the centre of the UK’s biggest investigation into neglect in nursing homes are calling for justice after the case collapsed.

Operation Jasmine spent seven years collecting evidence in against a string of homes in south Wales.

It identified 100 potential victims and cost £11m.

The older people’s commissioner has called for a public inquiry into the “catalogue of failures.” The Welsh government is considering it.

The case was against nursing home owner, Dr Prana Das, company chief executive Paul Black and their company Puretruce.

But it collapsed in March following a robbery at Dr Das’ home which left him brain injured and unfit to stand trial.

One of the key cases investigated was into the care of Evelyn Jones, a resident at Brithdir nursing home in New Tredegar.

Speaking publicly about what happened for the first time to the BBC Wales current affairs series Week In Week Out, her family said they were shocked when Mrs Jones was taken to hospital with a chest infection and staff noticed she had horrific pressure sores.

“It looked like a really bad burn. It was black, blue and sort of festering round the edges. She had two holes in the coccyx area, which was like a two pence piece,” explained her granddaughter Ruth Phillips.

“But it was so badly infected that I could see the bones of her back penetrating through these holes. The pain and suffering she must have gone through to be in that state doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Ms Phillips said they wonder if they will ever get justice.

“My grandmother has suffered like this but nothing’s happened so we would like justice to be done,” she said.

‘Reassurance’

There are now growing calls for a public inquiry into widespread neglect in nursing homes.

Sarah Rochira, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, said: “I don’t really know any other way of describing it, other than a catalogue of failure.

“I’ve called upon the Welsh government to undertake a public inquiry – a public inquiry into what happened, who was responsible, and to provide the reassurance I think the public is looking for that it couldn’t happen again in Wales.”

The programme also discovered that the seven-year Operation Jasmine investigation by Gwent Police encountered formidable hurdles.

Detectives were unable to bring prosecutions for serious offences, such as manslaughter and wilful neglect.

Gwent Deputy Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said: “Where you are seeing people who have got pressure sores which are corroded down to the bone; people vomiting faeces they are so constipated or so hydrated, it is a significant cause of their death.

“In 2006, now in 2013, nobody would expect anybody to live in those conditions.”

Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith plans to introduce a Private Members’ Bill to make nursing home owners and staff more accountable.

Mr Smith said: “We should be pursuing these people for poor care, and if they do provide poor care they should face the full force of the law and they should be prosecuted and made to go to prison for any criminal activity.”

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We are aware of the older people’s commissioner’s intent to raise the issue of a public inquiry. Official correspondence has just been received on the matter and we will consider carefully the call for an inquiry before responding.”

“The Welsh government takes safeguarding very seriously and we have included measures in the Social Services and Wellbeing Bill to further protect adults at risk.

“This case has been taken into consideration while developing the forthcoming White Paper on regulation and inspection of social care and support in Wales, which will lead to legislation in this government’s term.”

Week In Week Out can be seen at 22:35 BST on Tuesday 4 June on BBC One Wales.