AN investigation by watchdogs has highlighted significant failings in the care provided to a Newcastle man with Down’s syndrome.
A report by the Health Service and Local Government Ombudsmen, published today, describes how David Parsons’ basic human rights were ignored after he was detained unnecessarily in hospital for seven months and was then moved into inappropriate locked accommodation until his death.
The ombudsmen carried out a joint inquiry into complaints made by Mr Parsons’ brother Roger about the care and treatment provided by Newcastle City Council and Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Parsons, from Heaton, had been an active, outgoing and sociable man, living independently in rented accommodation with his wife Leslie. The 53-year-old received day-to-day support from the council as well as his family, who he was close to.
But in November 2005 health professionals raised concerns about Mr Parsons’ deteriorating health and abilities, and he was admitted to Northgate Hospital in Morpeth for a five to six-week assessment. He was diagnosed with dementia and epilepsy but despite being declared ready for discharge, he was kept in hospital until the following June.
Rather than then returning to his home, which was considered unsuitable, he and his wife were moved to a self contained flat at a care home for older people, which was kept locked to restrict Mr Parsons’ access outside.
Although the flat was supposed to be temporary, Mr Parsons and his wife were still living there when he became ill with a chest infection and died of pneumonia 10 months later in April 2007.
The inquiry found significant failings in the care provided to Mr Parsons by both the council and NHS Trust.
The NHS Trust failed to document the assessment of Mr Parsons’ capacity to consent both to his admission and his continued stay in hospital, thereby not showing that his basic human rights were being adequately protected. The trust also failed to involve Mr Parsons’ family fully in his care planning.
The ombudsmen found that there was a lack of any properly co-ordinated and documented health and care plan and nobody from the NHS trust or council took responsibility for co-ordinating his care or representing his interests.
They also found that the council failed to take action quickly enough to find suitable accommodation for Mr Parsons and his wife, and that contact with his family had been restricted.
His rights to liberty and family life were not given adequate consideration by those involved in his care, the inquiry found. The report also found there was clear evidence of Mr Parsons’ expressed desire to leave the hospital.
The ombudsmen also found it surprising that the NHS Trust did not do more to urge social services to find suitable accommodation quickly once Mr Parsons was ready for discharge.
