The heartbroken family of a pensioner who died at an Inverness nursing home claim managers should have sought outside advice to ensure she was eating and drinking enough in their care.
Christina Wilson, also known as Anne, from Avoch, was admitted to Highview House Care Home from Raigmore Hospital on May 16, 2013, but died three weeks later. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death was kidney disease and urinary tract infection.
Complaints inspector Jane Blair told a fatal accident inquiry at Inverness Sheriff Court this week that some nursing staff were not competent in how to change her nephrostomies or ileostomies – artificial links to divert bodily waste – and that not all attended training sessions run by specialists on the specific process.
And Mrs Blair revealed that daily records showed the 72-year-old had very little food and fluid intake and should have been referred to a dietician or given more fortified foods like full fat yogurt.
Following the inquiry, Mrs Wilson’s son-in-law Ronald Fraser said: “If they had known if she was not drinking or eating enough they could have phoned the hospital, and she would have gone back to the hospital and been put on a drip, which is what she told us she wanted.
“They should have had another plan in place but it boils down to lack of communication. She was not getting enough fluid or food and when that was happening, the home should have got in contact with family. You put your trust in these places to do this.”
Mr Fraser also believed his mother-in-law should not have been released from the hospital until all staff, including carers, were “100% sure” in what they were doing.
He claimed the care home owner, Barchester Healthcare, should have been “more prepared” in terms of planning for her arrival and her specific care needs.
Nursing home manager Karen Rose told the inquiry that the changing of stomas (waste pouches) is “basic nursing care” and that qualified staff should have been aware of what symptoms to look out for in a urinary tract infection.
The lead nurse on Mrs Wilson’s floor, Mary Maclennan, also gave evidence and told how staff had said Mrs Wilson was often “agitated” and continually taking her stoma bags off, adding that it was difficult to get her to drink anything.
Mrs Wilson had developed cervical cancer and kidney problems in the past and had 10 hospital admissions between January 2011 and her death on June 8, 2013. She also had multiple urinary tract infections and contracted e-coli.
Sheriff David Sutherland will now consider the evidence before reaching a determination.
A spokeswoman from Barchester said: “‘At Highview House the safety and wellbeing of our residents is of the utmost importance. As the inquiry is ongoing we cannot comment at this time.”