Last year we reported on the story regarding an enquiry being ordered by the government over claims a grandmother suffered from up to 50 rat bites.
Read the full story on the BBC.
Pamela Hudson, 75, had bite injuries to her face, body and arms caused by a rat in her council run home, Glen Lodge, which is in York. Now, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for an investigation after seeing the graphic pictures of Mrs Hudson’s injuries. But after its own inquiry, City of York Council said it could not determine how Mrs Hudson came by her injuries.
Mr Hunt has said, “Whatever the sort of social care provider, patients have a right to expect the highest standards, and that is what we are determined to secure.”
Mrs Hudson’s daughter, Jan Derry, thinks the rat may have got trapped in the bed with her mother and attacked her mother as it tried to get out. Grandmother, Pamela was later transferred to alternative accommodation, before passing away three months after the incident.
Care for the elderly
No elderly person should face poor care or unsafe standards of hygiene and safety. Considering that care homes are a paid service that many families have to help fund, we should be able to trust that incidents like this are not going to happen.
But with care homes struggling to stay open due to the funding cuts, it’s becoming more common hearing such reports. In more recent months there was a report of an elderly resident who wasn’t given a bath for a period of 5 months.
What can help?
If you have a grandmother or other elderly relative who doesn’t want to move into a residential care home, but needs the safety and security of help when they need it, a Careline may suit their needs. We provide 24/7 monitored personal alarms so elderly and frail residents can keep their independence at home but have total peace of mind that their just a touch of a button away from help if required.
To find out more about our alarm pendants and order a Careline your can phone us for free on 0808 304 4183.
