Care home fined £1.6m after 91-year-old resident froze to death as son reveals agony
A CARE home firm has been fined £1.6million after a 91-year-old resident froze to death.
Annie Barritt was found unresponsive, with a temperature so cold nurses couldn’t register it on a standard thermometer on November 4, 2012.
The tragic 91-year-old was eventually found to be a whopping 25.3 degrees centigrade, which is nearly 10 degrees less than the hypothermia threshold of 35 degrees.
York Crown Court heard how the pensioner had not been fed any hot food or given any drink on her last day alive.
Mrs Barritt’s hospital papers stated she needed to be kept warm at Oaklands Country Rest Home, situated near York.
The OAP died after suffering from a severe case of hypothermia – despite two nurses checking on her approximately 10 times on the day she died.
The deputy manager in charge on the day of Mrs Barritt’s death had previously told the management team he did not feel capable of being in charge of the care home as he didn’t have the expertise to care for the elderly.
Speaking at York County Court on behalf of Harrogate District Council, prosecutor David Hercock said: "By the time a night shift nurse realised she was in trouble at 7.50pm, she felt ice cold, she wasn't breathing and her temperature was so low it couldn't register on a standard thermometer.
"She was taken by ambulance to Harrogate District Hospital, but died there later the same day.
"She was suffering from hypothermia.
"Her core temperature was 25.3 degrees centigrade, nearly ten degrees below the hypothermia threshold of 35 degrees."
Maria Mallaband Care Group Ltd of Leeds, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge in relation to Mrs Barritt’s death at a hearing in June this year.
At the time of the tragic incident, the firm was responsible for 30 homes for the elderly across the country, and cared for 2,600 residents.
Despite this, investigations into Mrs Barritt’s death have revealed the heaters in a number of rooms in Oaklands Country Rest Home were never maintained, and have even been inexpertly repaired.
The site’s only maintenance person was a handyman without the relevant qualifications or experience, who only worked mornings.
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In a personal statement read out at court, heartbroken son David Barritt said: "No-one should be left alone, cold and without food or water to eventually die while being cared for by so-called professionals."
Mrs Barritt’s son said he would “always be haunted” by the thought he was responsible for his mother’s death because he decided to place her at the home.
He said the care home’s management should “hang their heads in shame” over his mother’s death, and called for them to examine their consciences.
Prosecutor Mr Hercock said staff at the hospital had warned the home Mrs Barritt needed to be kept warm mere days before her death, due to her dementia and low body temperature.
Mrs Barritt initially went to the care home on July 25 in 2012 for a three-week stay, but ended up living at the home until her untimely death.
'No-one should be left alone, cold and without food or water to eventually die while being cared for by so-called professionals'
The 95-year-old had suffered from dementia for five years, and had fallen on October 27, when she was taken to Harrogate District Hospital for treatment.
Though her discharge letter advised keeping her warm, the advice was ignored.
Mrs Barritt’s relatives, other residents, and staff had informed the care home’s management that the oil-fired heating in the home’s Acorn suite didn’t work properly, but nothing was done to rectify the situation.
The home had even run out of fuel on a number of occasions during the two winters before Mrs Barritt passed away.
The court heard that no thermometer test was used by the home until after Mrs Barritt’s death.
Defending the care home, Peter Maxwell-Scott told the court on Tuesday: "The defendant has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity but does not admit they disobeyed the legislation and guidance.
"The company has been a responsible and responsive organisation.
"It is an overstatement that heating was a long standing and known problem.
“Here in this booklet in 2011 clearly states that the official book to report incidents that says 'rad on' which I can only believe the radiator was turned on," he said.
Justice Paul Batty interrupted Mr Maxwell-Scot to question the document, which underneath clearly read 'Room Cold' during a 2012 entry.
Commenting on the insertion, Mr Maxwell Scott explained: "It says 'Room Cold' but over the 41 rooms the temperature would fluctuate depending on the type of season."
He continued: "And following this sad and tragic event, thermometers were placed in all 2,600 rooms.
"On 10 occasions Mrs Barritt was visited by two members of staff, she was not left for long periods of time.
"She was visited by a nurse in the day to change her bandages and Mrs Barritt was a normal temperature.
"Through the 2,600 patients who have been housed at care home - this is the first time anyone has died of Hypothermia."
Maria Mallaband Care Group Ltd has an annual turnover of £50million, and has won numerous national awards.
However, Oaklands Country Rest Home reported losses of £1.75million in 2015, and £4.2million in 2016.
Judge Paul Batty, QC, said he would have to read through the material handed to him at court before he could conclude sentencing, but warned the company could “face a financial penalty”.
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