I put mum in care home...and feel like I pulled the trigger myself

Oct 5 2008 By Kurt Bayer

WATCHDOGS have launched a third investigation into a care home already blamed for the death of two elderly residents.

The family of Betty Stirling, 74, accuse staff at the Tullideph Care Home of failing to get her medical treatment after a series of falls.

And a whistleblower has backed their fears after claiming colleagues neglected Betty.

The treatment of Alzheimer's sufferer Betty - who died in July after a stroke - is being probed by watchdogs at the Care Commission.

Her daughter Norma Stirling said: "I feel so guilty for putting mum in there. I have no doubt that if we never moved her there, she would be alive.

"It feels like I pulled the trigger myself. But we trusted them to care for mum.

"We thought we were doing the right thing by getting her professional help. I'll regret that decision for the rest of my life."

Norma,50, anddadBob, 79, put Betty in the Dundee home because they believed she needed full-time care.

She added: "Mum was quite healthy when she left in April but within a fortnight she had a bad fall. She was badly bruised all down her face and had a big gash on her head. I complained that she was not taken to hospital but I was ignored.

"Over the next few months mum had about 10 falls. Whenever she fell and I approached staff, no one would admit to being on shift at that time."

Care assistant Lesley Scott, 38, has accused former colleagues at the home of neglecting Betty. She says she was sacked after telling Care Commission regulators of her concerns in July.

Lesley, who now works as a nurse at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, said: "Betty had several falls but didn't receive the treatment she should have.

"One time she hit her head on the ground and had a bad gash but they refused to take her to hospital.

"I was glad when I was sacked as I didn't want to be associated with it in any way. Betty was a lovely woman but she was ignored by the carers."

Earlier this year it was revealed 74-year-old great gran Helen Low died after being taken to hospital from the home suffering from severe dehydration and gaping bed sores.

The Care Commission upheld eight complaints lodged by her family.

Tullideph was also heavily criticised after war veteran James Hutchison was kicked to death by an Alzheimer's sufferer. A sheriff criticised bosses for ignoring the killer's record of violence.

Marcia Ramsay, of the Care Commission, said: "These allegations will be thoroughly investigated.

"We already have significant concerns about the quality of care."

A spokeswoman for Four Seasons Health Care, the home's owners, said: "A positive and open dialogue has been documented with this lady's next of kin and there are no official complaints recorded."

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