AN ALZHEIMER’S sufferer who died days after swallowing latex gloves at a nursing home, was not being adequately cared for, the Health Service Executive told a court in Waterford yesterday.
The HSE has taken court action against Mowlam nursing home in Waterford regarding the death of James “Hymie” Griffin (67), Cannon Street in the city, who died on November 13th, 2008.
Mr Griffin, who had previously worked as a journalist, suffered breathing difficulties and later a cardiac arrest after swallowing the gloves at Mowlam nursing home, Ballinakill Downs near the city. He died at Waterford Regional Hospital five days after swallowing the gloves.
The HSE initiated legal action against Mowlam for allegedly breaching nursing home care regulations, in a case that was initially heard in March and was adjourned to a special sitting of the Distric Court in Waterford city yesterday. The action relates to Article 5 of the Nursing Home (Care and Welfare Regulations), 1993.
The HSE said Mr Griffin should not have been able to gain access to the gloves, which were placed in assisted bathrooms at Mowlam. Mr Griffin, a patient at the home since 2007, was found unconscious by care assistants and with breathing irregularities on November 8th, 2008.
Efforts were made to revive him and paramedics removed the material from his airway. While the patient had no pulse and was not breathing, a cardiac output was recorded following the administration of drugs.
Mr Griffin died at WRH five days later.
An investigation was initiated on foot of a complaint to the HSE on December 5th, 2008 by Mr Griffin’s brother, Brendan.
A three-person investigation team was set up to probe the issues, as laid out in the nursing home regulations.
Under questioning from William Fitzgerald, for the HSE, Geraldine Tabb, a director of Public Health Services with the executive and a member of the investigation team, said that Mr Griffin had been “wandering aimlessly” at the nursing home. It was “well documented” that Mr Griffin had been wandering at Mowlam on November 8th, 2008.
A care plan should have been adjusted and there was “no evidence” that a risk assessment had been put in place after November 3rd, 2008 after Mr Griffin began “to display challenging behaviour”, she said.
Mowlam should have asked the HSE for additional funding for extra personnel to provide one-to-one care. Ms Tabb added: “That application was not made in Mr Griffin’s case.”
Mr Griffin was last seen on CCTV in Mowlam at 7.16pm on November 8th, some 24 minutes before he was found in a distressed condition by carers.
Under cross-examination from Shay Fleming, for Mowlam, Ms Tabb told Judge David Kennedy that it was her opinion that Mr Griffin was not properly cared for.
The trial continues today.
