A WOMAN investigated after a vulnerable care home resident died has spoken of her relief after an inquest ruled her actions had not caused her death.

For more than a year Shona Bairstow has lived with the worry that an “improperly prepared” chicken sandwich she mistakenly served to Olivia Rosemary Keenan may have killed her.

Ms Keenan died half an hour after eating the sandwich, which did not comply with strict dietary guidelines set out to protect the 58-year-old as she was at increased risk of choking due to Down’s Syndrome and dementia.

Ms Bairstow, deputy manager of Middleton Lodge Care Home, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, at the time was quizzed by police and later faced an inquest jury as authorities attempted to determine the cause of the 58-year-old’s death.

On Thursday, inquest jurors concluded that the sandwich should not have been given to Ms Keenan.

But, after hearing evidence from forensic pathologists, they decided the sandwich did not contribute to her death, which was from natural causes.

Following the inquest, Ms Bairstow told The Northern Echo her mistake had weighed heavily upon her.

Offering her condolences to Ms Keenan’s family, she said: “The inquest verdict comes as an immense relief, I’ve spent my career looking after people and this has been horrific.

“I’ve had a lot of abuse since this has been in the paper but those people do not know how I feel about making sure people get the highest possible standard of care at all times.

“I made a mistake and the relief for me is that that mistake did not kill someone.”

She said she had worked in care for 23 years with an unblemished record ahead of taking up the post at the care home.

She cited work related stress, pressures and general issues as contributing factors on the day of Ms Keenan's death.

Ms Bairstow said she deeply regretted her failure to adhere to guidelines, claiming she made the sandwich to give her a more varied diet.

“This has been so hard to carry – for a very long time," she added. "I’ve had to bear the burden of this lady’s death and I will never work in care again."