Category Archives: learning difficulties

Epileptic girl, 17, who choked on her own vomit in a hospital bed ‘was ignored by two nurses’

November 23, 2012   Carers, epilepsy, learning difficulties
  • Lassania Aslam, 17, suffered five epileptic fits in the space of 24 hours
  • Caroline O’Rourke and Mary Subaste failed to look after her properly
  • Coroner’s court hear how hospital neglect contributed to her death

By Steve Robson

PUBLISHED: 09:35, 23 November 2012 | UPDATED: 10:53, 23 November 2012

Tragic: Lassania Aslam had learning disabilities and was a life-long sufferer of epilepsy

Tragic: Lassania Aslam had learning disabilities and was a life-long sufferer of epilepsyTwo nurses who ignored the plight of an epileptic girl who died after she inhaled her own vomit in a hospital bed face being struck off.

Lassania Aslam, 17, suffered five seizures in the space of 24 hours after being admitted to The Whittington Hospital in Archway, north London.

But senior nurses Caroline O’Rourke and Mary Subaste failed to ensure she was looked after properly as the 17-year-old’s brain was starved of oxygen, a tribunal heard.

 

Subaste had witnessed two of Lassania’s fits, one of which lasted for six minutes.

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Don’t just blame staff – companies must be ‘accountable’ for care home failings

November 13, 2012   Carers, learning difficulties, mental health

Minister pledges new rules to ensure firms which fail vulnerable patients are punished
Nina Lakhani

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Private companies which get public money to run care homes will be made “corporately accountable” for poor standards, the Care Services minister has pledged.

Norman Lamb said he would address regulatory gaps to ensure there were consequences for firms which failed vulnerable patients in hospitals or care homes. At present, care home staff and managers are more likely to be held accountable for abuse than the companies, executives and investors that actually profit from failing homes.

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Jo Whiley: Carers aren't recognised or given enough support

November 4, 2012   Carers, learning difficulties

Radio 2 DJ and TV presenter Jo Whiley, 47, has four children, aged from four to 20. Her sister has a learning disability and she worries about what will happen with her in the future.

 Jo Whiley has a sister with a learning disability

My sister Frances is three years younger than me and has cri du chat, a learning disability. As a child, I became protective of her and took on more of a caring role, which I see in my own children. They always go out of their way to help Aunty Frances and my parents. If you have someone in your family who can be demanding, as Frances can be, you have to help and be more aware of people.

I used to take Frances out quite a lot when we were growing up. We had a mutual love of music and we’d get the bus to town on Saturdays and buy 7in singles for her record player at home. We went to Cornwall recently on holiday, my family and my parents, to give them a break while my sister stayed with someone. We walked past a record shop and my dad nipped in to see if he could find any records for the jukebox at home for Frances. We have Frances and the things she might like in our minds all the time.

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