care in the uk - a disgrace

[Dystopiary]

An inquest has concluded that gross neglect contributed to the death of a man with Down's Syndrome, who was a care home resident.

Marcus Hanlin, 57, was left alone in a room despite being on a support plan "that required him to be supervised at all times when around food due to a choking risk and swallowing issues."

Mr Hanlin was on a regime at Cheddar Grove Nursing Home that included him only eating pureed meals and being kept away from food preparation areas.

However, on 28 September 2022, he was left alone in the dining room of the specialist home with a bowl of coloured rice in which conkers were hidden that had been prepared as an activity for other residents. He swallowed some rice and two conkers, leading to him choking.

Mr Hanlin's mother, Anna Rose, said her son was "in his own right a remarkable man".

"He had all these conditions to cope with yet something in him made a massive impact on people who got to know him."

The charity Inquest said that his death was one of at least 18 since 2015 involving vulnerable people with learning disabilities who died by choking or after a swallowing incident in a care setting.

There's clearly not enough care in "care."

Gross neglect contributes to death of man with Down's Syndrome

 

[brogdale]

Now > 18 months into our own complaint about the ASC neglect that contributed to my FiL's death.
Fuck me, it takes mighty will-power, energy and wherewithal to get anywhere with complaints about care; top respect to those families that see the whole distressing and enervating process through to successful outcomes.

 

[hash tag]

I'm sorry brogdale it's sole destroying. I tried complaining about my father's treatment. First up they needed his consent which he was unable to give. If nothing else I hoped people would reflect and make sure the same mistakes would not be repeated but they just wouldn't listen.

 

[hash tag]

20% of care homes inadequate
BBC News - Three perspectives on how to fix social care

Three North East perspectives on how to fix social care

Almost one in five care homes is rated "needs improvement" or "inadequate", so what needs to change?

www.bbc.com

I have qualms about CCTV being installed in a persons own home especially when they are unable to give consent, but in a care home, no.
Care homes can help keep people out of hospitals they can also help with prompt discharge from hospitals thus freeing up hospital beds. It seems to me that everyone is competing for and trying to protect their budgets, be it a doctor's surgery, a hospital, the ambulance service, social services and care homes. Whilst its good to make people accountable it does not work in favour of the patient.
Care homes being taken over by large organisations and seeking to make profits on behalf of their investors cannot help. To maximise their profits the care homes are neglected and often employ at rick bottom wages.
Isn't it time the funding of all these services is properly looked at and updated.
Incidentally, I have little issues with the new breed of private care homes which cost an arm and a leg for those that can afford it making a profit for their investors but we really need a properly funded system for everyone else.

 

[Dystopiary]

In the king's speech, the Labour Party have pledged to reform the Mental Health Act.

2,025 people with learning disabilities or autism are currently locked up; 1,855 of those people are detained under the Mental Health Act, often for years, despite neither learning disabilities nor autism being mental health conditions. As previously highlighted on this thread, the conditions in which these people are held are very often inappropriate and abusive, and people have died in such detention due to neglect and ill-treatment.

The scandal of people with learning disabilities or autism being detained on mental health wards or in controversial secure hospitals, known as assessment and treatment units (ATUs), has been highlighted by Sky News over many years.

We previously revealed that more than 40 people had died while detained.

A further 35 people have died since our first report.

King's Speech: Autism and learning disability pledge welcomed - but 'nervous' campaigners warn 'huge investment' needed

The head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society has said that the inclusion of the Mental Health Act in the king's speech is "a vital opportunity to change the law so autism is no longer defined as a ‘mental disorder’ and autistic people cannot be detained in mental health hospitals just for being autistic."

Our response to the Kings Speech

 

[GarveyLives]

"A disabled woman, who had trouble swallowing and was on a 'soft mash diet', died after choking in a Darlington care home in February after she was given a ham sandwich, an inquest has heard ..."

(Source: North News & Pictures Ltd)

The Late Brenda Preston with her husband, David​

Disabled patient on 'mash diet' died after choking on sandwich given to her in Darlington care home

"Care UK which runs the care home has previously been fined more than £1.5 million in 2022 after an elderly resident choked to death in another one of its care homes in the south of the country.

 

[GarveyLives]

For the record (broadcast 3 January 2025):

​