Grace Allenby, 88, had weeping wounds and bed sores (From The Northern Echo)

Grace Allenby, 88, had weeping wounds and bed sores

8:22am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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SOCIAL services officials have apologised to the family of a great-grandmother who was sent to a nursing home covered in weeping wounds and bed sores.

Grace Allenby, 88, who suffered from dementia, suspected cancer and heart problems, died two days later, in 2007.

An investigation by Middlesbrough Council found she had been the victim of neglect.

She was a resident of the Grove Lodge Care Home, in Middlesbrough, run by Executive Care Homes, before her move to the nursing home.

Staff were said to be shocked by her condition on arrival from Grove Lodge. She had matted hair and her weight had plummeted to six stones.

Although an inquest found she died of natural causes and not because of the care she received, a serious case review was launched.

Middlesbrough Council published the results of the inquiry yesterday.

Jan Douglas, the executive director of social care at the council, said there were shortcomings from The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, which initially sent her back to the care home even though she needed a nursing home, from district nurses who visited her regularly and should have raised concerns about her condition, and from the care home itself.

The council was not involved in Mrs Allenby’s care because she did not receive financial help towards it. However, it was alerted to problems at the home some time before Mrs Allenby’s death, but felt they were not “safeguarding”

issues and did not warrant an investigation.

Councillor Julia Rostron, the executive member for social care for the council, said: “We would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the family of Mrs Allenby.

“She did not receive the appropriate level of care from a number of agencies. This was totally unacceptable.

“A significant amount of work has already taken place... to improve the safeguarding of vulnerable adults since March 2008. The safety and dignity of older people in Middlesbrough is at the very top of all our priorities.”

A statement from Executive Care Group, which has had a management overhaul since Ms Allenby’s death, apologised, but said: “It is important to note that the coroner stated there was no evidence that the care Mrs Allenby received contributed to her death. The police investigation also concluded that there was no wilful neglect.

“We constantly strive to improve our service at all times and where any issues have been raised, we have dealt with them.

“Many families, relatives and residents have kindly taken the time to say how happy they are with the care at Grove Lodge.”