A COUNCIL has been told to pay money to a woman over failings in how her mother was cared for in the lead up to her death.
The local government upheld a complainant about how the woman’s mother was treated in the last days of her life at a care home.
The woman also claimed her mother’s wedding ring had been lost following cleaning of her room in the care home.
A report released by the Local Government Ombudsman shared details of the complaint against Cumbria County Council by the woman, identified only as Mrs X, about her mother, Ms Y.
Finding against the council, the ombudsman said: “Mrs X complained about the level of care provided to her mother, Ms Y, in the last few days of her life by the care home.
“She also complained about the clearing of Ms Y’s room and the way her belongings were handled. There were failings in the care home’s records in the last few days of Ms Y’s life and it failed to properly safeguard her belongings after her death.
“The Council, which commissioned the care, should apologise, pay Mrs X £250 and ensure the care home takes action to prevent recurrence.”
According to the decision report, Mrs X claimed the care home did not offer her mother fluids in the last five days, believing it may have accelerated her death.
She said a cleaner removed her mother’s belongings from her room despite Mrs X having told the care home she wanted to clear the room herself.
The cleaner inappropriately stored her mother’s belongings in black bin bags and did not ensure they were kept secure.
This led to some items becoming damaged or going missing, including the wedding ring, she said.
Mrs X said the failings, and the care home’s response when she complained, had a ‘devastating impact on her at an already upsetting time’.
She said she wanted an apology from the cleaner and appropriate compensation for the items lost or damaged.
It has been agreed that the council will pay £250 to the woman and arrange for the care home to ‘remind relevant staff of the need to keep full records of the care provided and to record the reasons for not offering food, drink or medication when providing end of life care’ and ‘develop a written process for dealing with deceased residents’ belongings’.
A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “We respect their decision and will action the recommendations. Sorry for any distress experienced.”
