70 year old Gladys was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1997. Her husband Arthur struggled to cope with her care and finally in December 1999 she was placed in nursing home. Gladys was still well enough to walk around, talk, feed and wash herself and was aware of her surroundings.
By 2001 her condition had deteriorated to the point that she could no longer feed herself or walk unaided. During March and April Gladys suffered nine falls and was taken to hospital, where it was noted she had blisters on both heels and knees. A few days later the hospital recorded a large blood blister and one smaller blister on her lower back. After developing sores on her elbows, Gladys was moved to a second hospital. By this stage she had large press sores and red patches all over her lower back, buttocks and legs.
After leaving hospital and returning to the nursing home some 4-5 weeks later, there was no improvement to her sores. In September Gladys was submitted to a third hospital, where a consultant expressed to Gladys’ family that the sores should not have developed to the extent that they did. Gladys’ sores did not heal until January 2003.
Gladys’ family approached solicitors in June 2002. A specialist nursing report was commissioned which was critical of the quality of nursing care in the hospital.
An expert concluded that the nursing staff at the hospital had failed to implement pressure sore prevention methods as they had not correctly identified Gladys as being at a ‘very high risk’ of pressure sores. Following the development of Gladys’ sores, the hospital had failed to prescribe an alternating pressure relieving mattress or implement changes as to prescribing nursing on alternate sides. The final conclusion was that the measures taken to prevent the development and further deterioration of pressure sores fell short of the standard expected of a competent nursing team.
The defending hospital admitted failing to assess the risk category of developing pressure sores, and admitted that as a result they had caused Gladys unnecessary pain and suffering. The claim was eventually settled with the hospital paying Gladys £20,000 in general damages.
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