A former care home boss who was suspended following the death of an 89-year-old resident will have to wait until next year to learn her fate.
Pamela Tavendale was working as a manager of Mowat Court in Stonehaven when Gladys Burr died in February 2012, four months after moving into the home.
The pensioner suffered a total of 54 accidents during that time and her family have always claimed her time there caused her “premature” death.
Eleven complaints – including one that Mrs Burr was left in a daze due to an unnecessary cocktail of drugs – were upheld by the Care Inspectorate, and Tavendale was suspended for 18 months while health chiefs investigated her conduct.
Earlier this year, the case was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to determine whether she should be struck off.
Now, following a four-day hearing in Edinburgh, which began on Monday, the panel has determined that Tavendale was responsible for a number of failings during her time as care home manager.
Among the allegations upheld by the panel were a complaint that staff had been permitted to restrain Mrs Burr inappropriately, did not treat her with respect and failed to manage concerns and complaints raised by relatives.
Tavendale also failed to ensure risk assessments were carried out to reduce the number of falls at the home.
However, a number of other allegations against her were dropped by the panel.
Mrs Burr’s son Sandy and daughters Sandra and Irene attended a previous hearing in August.
Mr Burr gave evidence on behalf of the family, and told the panel about his mother’s final weeks in the Care UK-run home.
Yesterday, due to a “lack of time”, the panel failed to reach a decision on whether Ms Tavendale’s actions amounted to misconduct and whether her fitness to practice has been impaired.
The case has been adjourned until January 15.