Beloved grandad, 75, choked to death on chicken nuggets at care home, inquest told

A 75-YEAR-OLD grandad tragically choked to death on chicken nuggets at a care home, an inquest heard.

Bob Buckley suffered from dementia and was a known "choke risk" to carers during his stay at The Chase in Canterbury, Kent.

The grandad required specialist care with meals, with food needing to be cut into small pieces and staff close by while he ate.

On August 19, 2019, when Mr Buckley was found to be choking, staff tried dislodging food from his throat, repeatedly slapped his back and deployed a “thrusting” technique to help save him.

Despite two ambulance crews arriving in minutes, Mr Buckley’s heart stopped and, due to a do-not-resuscitate order, paramedics did not attempt to revive him.

Shortly after his death, Chase told the grandad's family – and healthcare watchdog Care Quality Commission – that Mr Buckley had choked on cake.

However, medics later discovered he had eaten whole chicken nuggets and half a baby carrot.

The hearing today at Oakwood House in Maidstone was told how Mr Buckley was known to "pouch" his food – holding items in his mouth for long periods – and prone to eating quickly, a risk flagged by his wife.

Coroner Ian Brownhill said: “The food was not cut into small pieces, and paramedics were surprised at the size of the food removed from Bob’s airway.”

Staff “neglected” their duties and he was seen turning “blue in the face” before suffocating, the coroners’ court was told.

The court heard how a staff member referred to only as ‘Carer 1’ physically handed Mr Buckley the fatal plate of food.

Mr Brownhill continued: “Carer 1 handed Bob the plate of food at tea time. She also plated the food, which he ate.

“She previously said the plates were pre-prepared, but this does not accord with what she told police after his death.”

The meal included chicken nuggets and chocolate cake.

The coroner said there was “absolutely no evidence” to support Chase’s claim Mr Buckley took nuggets from another resident’s plate.

Furthermore, ‘Carer 2’, was thought to have been responsible for monitoring Mr Buckley as he ate according to the manager.

But she was discovered to have left him unsupervised.

The coroner said: “She was walking up and down in the lounge when Bob was choking,”

“Carer 2 was aware they ought not to leave residents unsupervised but did so.”

Representatives for the care home argued at previous hearings: “The factorial matrix of Bob's death was so unclear that you could not conclude this was unlawful killing”.

Mr Brownhill said he had considered the conclusions of corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter.

And although he recognised Chase breached its duty of care, he could not conclude it met the requirements for either.

Mr Brownhill recorded a narrative conclusion of neglect, adding: “Bob had been identified as a risk of choking despite the fact that those caring for Bob did not properly mitigate this risk.

“They did not cut up his food or monitor him closely enough.

“This led to his death.”