Death of great grandfather left screaming in agony by care home was 'preventable'

A coroner blasted a care home over the "preventable" death of a blind 90-year-old man whose screams for help were ignored by staff watching TV.

John Robinson died of multiple organ failure after care home staff failed to send him to hospital for four days when he developed an infection.

Yesterday assistant deputy coroner Catherine Mason condemned the privately-run Hazeldene Nursing Home in Darnall, Sheffield, after hearing that care workers ignored the great-grandfather who was left screaming in pain, shivering and suffering from a high temperature for days.

At Sheffield Coroner's Court, Mrs Mason concluded that "his death was preventable if earlier treatment had been given".

In a stinging attack on the home, she added: "Medical attention was not sought for Mr Robinson who was in a dependent condition.

"It is clear that this was a matter of misjudgment by the professionals rather than specific intention to leave a sick man without assistance.

"Even at 90 years of age, the elderly deserve the right to be treated with respect, dignity and care."

The family of the former steelworker said they repeatedly asked staff at the 60-bed privately-run home to send him to hospital, only to be told they "worried about him too much".

Mr Robinson's daughter, Jean Cook, 60, told the hearing that twice she arrived at the home to find the frail pensioner crying in pain caused by his catheter infection.

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She said: "I could hear my dad shouting out, 'Somebody please help me' but they were taking no notice. The care worker was watching TV." On another occasion when Mr Robinson complained about his bath water being too hot, he said he was squirted with cold water and left to stand in the cold.

His family also claimed staff often jabbed his mouth with a fork when they were trying to feed him.

When Mr Robinson was eventually admitted to the Northern General Hospital he died the next day on November 13 last year.

His doctor, Prof Tim Hendra told the hearing: "You can't leave a patient crying out in pain. If it had been managed differently, he could have survived. Mr Robinson was clearly unwell.

"He was distressed, flushed, frail and had a history of urinary tract infections. In my view alarm bells should have been ringing to the nursing staff."

The father of three, who lived at the home for four months before his death, first complained of stomach and groin pains and started visibly perspiring on November 9.

The next day Mr Robinson's GP was called out but he did not prescribe antibiotics as care home staff failed to tell him all of the patient's symptoms so he told them just to monitor the situation, the hearing was told.

The pensioner, who suffered from prostate and urinary problems and showed signs of Alzheimer's disease, was not seen by another GP until November 12 when he was taken to hospital.

Yesterday the care home manager Susan Horne admitted that he should have been taken to hospital earlier, but she said she could not explain why it never happened.

She also said the nursing home failed to keep accurate medical notes.

The coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

After the hearing, Mrs Cook said: "Our father should never have died. We are distraught about the way dad suffered and died unnecessarily."

The Daily Mail's Dignity for the Elderly campaign has consistently highlighted the plight of pensioners in hospitals and care homes. Abuses include underfeeding and physical and verbal cruelty and couples being separated to save money.