Abuse is a national disgrace

Published: 7 July, 2011

• THE disclosure (Family set up camera to record gran’s care home ‘abuse’ ordeal, June 30) of alleged abuse suffered by great grandma Maria Worrall at the privately run Ash Court care home in Kentish Town, had one positive aspect.

Unlike many in such places, the lady has a caring family, said to visit her frequently.

Concerned at her condition, they set up a concealed camera in her room to record the alleged abuse.

Abuse of elderly people in care is a national disgrace. A notorious case happened here in Camden, when disclosures of such at Beech House in St Pancras Hospital, finally became known. The patients had been transferred from Friern Hospital.

The subsequent internal inquiry disclosed intimidation and threats to workers by senior staff at Beech House. Consequently, some of these senior staff were dismissed.

It takes courage for junior staff to blow the whistle on the hierarchal systems of the NHS – or at least it did then!

Abusers are crafty, as well being wicked. It is in the interests of everyone to root them out, as we too could fall into their hands, as we age.

The report of the Internal Inquiry Relating to the Mistreatment of Patients Residing at Beech House, 

St Pancras Hospital During  the Period 1993-1996, is a permanent record of what happened there.

SKIP MURPHY
Prince of Wales Road, NW3

Cries for help

• AFTER reading your June 30 report, this would be an appropriate moment to pass on my observations regarding the Ash Court care home.

My garden is adjacent to the property, and early morning walks there are often disturbed by prolonged and distressing cries for help from the home.  

These sometimes appear interminably long and I have, on occasion, both telephoned and visited the home to report that they have patients in need of attention.

ANNE ARMES
Leverton Street, NW5

First class

• MY husband was a resident at Ash Court nursing home for two and a half years. 

We can only say that he got first class care and we always found (the) team very helpful in every way.   

M GRAY & FAMILY
Addresses supplied

Role of the manager

• I READ your report (Family set up camera to record gran’s care home ‘abuse’ ordeal, June 30) about Maria Worrall.

I believe the managers of residential homes should visit the residents whether they are young, old, or wheelchair-bound, daily, to make sure they have been cleaned. And speak to them – then they would notice any bruises.  

One of the problems is managers rely too much on the team leaders. Care staff are needed and some staff genuinely care for residents and treat them with respect and make sure they are clean. 

But most staff who are unable to work in other fields take on work at residential homes and are there just for the wages.

I have a sister in a residential home and she is wheelchair-bound. She pushes herself half onto the toilet and sometimes needs help to pull herself back onto the chair as she sits half on the toilet and half on the chair. I noticed she does not change her knickers or dress until the next bath-day which is four or five days. I know my sister and for some reason she is worried about the washing of her garments. She even sleeps in the same garments she wears during the day until the next bath-day. 

I discussed this with the manager and was told that it was my sister’s choice if she did not want to change her garments and “daily staff cannot make her change them”.

Surely it is the duty of care staff to make sure that hygiene is maintained.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED NW6