6:30pm Tuesday 24th November 2009
By Craig Burnett
An elderly man admitted to hospital screaming in pain with bedsores and gangrene died of heart failure brought on by neglect in a Norbury care home, an inquest found today.
Incompetent staff at Eltandia Hall in Norbury - at least one of whom still works at the home - left Will Perrin dangerously malnourished after botching his medical records, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.
The 85-year-old was in agonizing pain from bedsores and ulcers and suffering gangrene when he was finally brought to St George’s Hospital on February 6 this year, after less than a year at the Middle Way facility, the court heard.
The former Mitcham resident, who suffered from dementia, died of a heart attack on February 26.
Today an inquest found the malnutrition and pressure sores he suffered at the home contributed to his death.
Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said: “This is the first case I have had to deal with where neglect is the only verdict available.”
Mr Perrin’s daughter, Joan Perrin-Henry - who flew over from America for the hearing - said: “My father cannot be helped at this point, but something should be done to ensure this does not happen to someone else’s family member.”
She added: “I just can’t imagine the kind of pain he would have been in.”
Mrs Henry also said she was “disturbed” to hear in court that at least one of the three people charged with caring for her father was still working at the home after a period of “counselling and re-training”.
Mr Perrin’s death sparked a temporary suspension on placements at the home by Merton Council, which was lifted earlier this year after reports of improvements at the home in Middle Way.
Dr Radcliffe recorded a death of natural causes, contributed to by neglect.
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