Nursing home at centre of inquiry

Nov 15 2007 by Sam Wood, The Journal

A POLICE investigation has been launched after the death of a pensioner in a Newcastle care home.

Officers were called in after John Gallagher, 71, was found dead last Thursday at the Silverdale Nursing home on Grainger Park Road, in the city’s West End.

It is understood that the investigation centres on medication given to Mr Gallagher on November 5, three days before he died.

Staff at the home, which is run by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, called in the police and have co-operated with the investigation.

No arrests have been made in the investigation and there is no suggestion that Mr Gallagher was targeted in any criminal act.

He had been receiving treatment in the home, which caters for older people with mental health problems.

Det Chief Insp Mark Anatasi, who is leading the inquiry, said: “I can confirm we are investigating the death of an elderly man so a report can be prepared for the coroner.

“At this stage it would appear this was an isolated incident. The NHS trust which runs the home and all staff are co-operating fully with the investigation and the family are being kept informed of the progress of the investigation.”

A post-mortem examination held after Mr Gallagher’s death was inconclusive. Police are investigating on behalf of the Newcastle coroner.

Mr Gallagher’s wife and son, who both live in Newcastle, have been informed. They were too distressed to speak last night.

A spokesman for the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Mental Health Trust, said: “We are co-operating fully with the police inquiry at this time.

“Once that has been completed, we will decide if a separate trust inquiry is required. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time.”

Silverdale is one of three NHS homes in Newcastle which are part of the Older People's Mental Health Care Services. The others are Ashgrove in Gosforth and Dene Lodge in Denton Burn.

The majority of patients have undergone a multi-expert assessment as an in-patient in one of the older people’s mental health acute assessment wards or the high-dependency ward at Newcastle General Hospital.

The majority of residents are over 65 and a high proportion have additional physical or medical needs and behavioural problems.