Monthly Archives: October 2012
“They’re killing me.. get me out of here”: Scandal of death of a 90-year-old dementia patient due to NHS failings
I just wish we could have nursed him at home.
When dementia sufferer Robin Melville was admitted to hospital after several falls at home his family hoped he would be nursed back to health. But two weeks later the 90-year-old died after falling from his bed, which had been raised 4ft off the ground and left with the guard rail down
The grandfather suffered brain damage, a fractured skull and broken ribs in the fall before dying from pneumonia. Bosses at Portsmouth’s Hospitals’ NHS Trust dispute that Mr Melville had died because of the fall in 2009. But now, after a three-year legal fight, the hospital has apologised and paid compensation.
Care homes given five star ratings fail key standards
28 October 2012 Last updated at 01:28
Care homes given five star ratings fail key standards
By Hannah Barnes Reporter, 5 live Investigates
Concerns have been raised about the consistency of independent assessments of care homes.Care homes with five-star ratings are receiving premium fees despite not meeting essential standards set out by the care regulator.
Local authorities pay higher fees to care homes awarded top ratings.
But critics say this is a “cheque book system” open to any home prepared to pay for a rating.
The Care Quality Commission advises people to visit homes and check their most recent CQC inspection report before making a decision on care.
Dementia singing groups aiming to branch out
A group which runs successful singing sessions for people with dementia and their carers has officially launched as an organisation in its own right, as it aims to help set up more sessions.
Kim Briscoe Saturday, October 27, 2012
10:00 AM
Come Singing started four years ago as an offshoot of a Norwich Alzheimer’s Society singing group, but now offers 17 sessions a month in care homes, day centres and for the general public in Northfields and Marion Road in Norwich, in Costessey and New Costessey, Colney and Wymondham,
Heather Edwards, from The Avenues, set up the first session as her father had dementia and as a music lecturer for the University of East Anglia she could see how people with dementia responded to music and search shows that musical memory survives relatively well in dementia.
