A Nottingham family is calling for lessons to be learned after winning their four-year legal battle following the death of a care home resident with dementia.
Christine Vaughan, a resident of Giltbrook care home, died in 2017 after developing an acute kidney infection and cystitis that an inquest found amounted to neglect.
Nottinghamshire County Council subsequently launched a safeguarding investigation, which found nutrition and fluid charts were often inconsistently completed, and Vaughan’s weight had been incorrectly calculated to show she was at a healthy weight when under weight.
Vaughan’s family brought a civil case against Giltbrook Care Homes Ltd, which has now agreed an out-of-court settlement.
Tania Harrison (pictured), the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Christine’s family, said: “During regular visits the family firmly believe they saw Christine’s condition deteriorate before them. However, despite raising concerns nothing was done to address these.
“While nothing can ever make up for their loss we’re pleased to have resolved this case and have been able to secure the answers Christine’s family deserved, providing them with some form of closure.”
Harrison continued: “People in care homes are some of society’s most vulnerable people and it’s now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient care.”
Michael Vaughan, son of Christine, said: “Dementia is a dreadful disease. It was hard enough to see how Mum wasn’t the same person because of her condition without having to then try and contend with the poor care she was receiving.
“We now just hope that what happened to Mum doesn’t happen to others.”
