Over on the Your Voice Matters website we found an interesting article about a new precedent having been set due to the banning of relatives from visiting their loved ones when their loved one is in a residential/care home.
You Voice Matters is a Community Interest Company/Charity raising awareness for Families of Service Users and giving back their voice. Your Voice Matters offers support and advice to those with concerns about service providers or services provided.
The Article is reported by the BBC
And reports on the Care Home Manager who banned a relative from visiting his dying mother-in-law! From the Care Homes own website they promote Dignity In Care - Does this action seem dignified? To prevent a family or family members from being with their loved one during the last few weeks or moments of life?
However, the outcome is that this Care Home Manager has been suspended for 12 months, and maybe 12 months is long enough to ensure she never makes this error of judgement again. Only time will tell. But the decision has set a new precedent, for future failings to be held accountable. And that is what is needed. More accountability for service providers and their staff, and better support and understanding for families and service users.
Vanessa Gent suspended after son-in-law banned from care home
A care home manager has been
suspended from nursing for 12 months after she was found guilty of
banning a man from visiting his dying mother-in-law.
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| Dignity in Care! |
She was found guilty of four counts before a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel in December.
Mrs Peacock's son-in-law said Ms Gent never gave a reason for his ban.
The tribunal, held at the Old Bailey in December, heard about tensions between Ms Gent and the family of Mrs Peacock, who had severe dementia.
Andrew Hart, 58, from Harrogate, was banned from visiting Mrs Peacock in May 2011. She died four weeks later.
'Unblemished career'
He said: "I saw Elisabeth as my mother... there was nothing I wouldn't have done for her."Vanessa Gent prevented me from spending the last four weeks of [Elisabeth's] life with her.
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| Vanessa Gent admitted two counts and was found guilty of two more at her hearing in December |
"I asked for a reason but she said she was not prepared to give an answer."
The panel, chaired by Alan Harris, concluded that a suspension order for a period of 12 months was "proportionate" and would mark the seriousness of the case.
Mr Harris said the panel gave consideration to making a striking off order but balanced it against Ms Gent's "lengthy and otherwise unblemished career".
During the hearing, Ms Gent admitted instructing a care assistant not to talk to Mr Hart and his sister-in-law Diane Allen, when they came to collect Mrs Peacock's belongings following her death.
She also admitted to failing to respond to emails of complaint and concern from the family.
A charge of writing a note saying "stop being so dramatic, everybody's mother dies" was dropped by the tribunal.
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