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Cherry Tree House: Woman not told mother had died | Cherry Tree House: Woman not told mother had died |
(35 minutes later) | |
A County Down woman has said nursing home staff did not tell her that her mother had died when she arrived to visit. | A County Down woman has said nursing home staff did not tell her that her mother had died when she arrived to visit. |
The incident happened at Cherry Tree House private nursing home in Carrickfergus in April 2011. | The incident happened at Cherry Tree House private nursing home in Carrickfergus in April 2011. |
A confidential review into the incident said there were gaps in how the home had managed contact with relatives. | A confidential review into the incident said there were gaps in how the home had managed contact with relatives. |
It came a day after a whistle-blower said she had raised concerns about standards in the home in 2005. | It came a day after a whistle-blower said she had raised concerns about standards in the home in 2005. |
Staff from Cherry Tree Nursing Home in the County Antrim town telephoned Elizabeth Calvert to say her 88-year-old mother, Olive Heylings, was unwell. | |
According to Mrs Calvert, when she arrived at the home a short time later she looked for her mother in her bedroom and the dining room but could not find her. | According to Mrs Calvert, when she arrived at the home a short time later she looked for her mother in her bedroom and the dining room but could not find her. |
She said a member of staff then asked if she wanted to see her mother and that, at that point, she was brought to another resident's bedroom. | She said a member of staff then asked if she wanted to see her mother and that, at that point, she was brought to another resident's bedroom. |
She said: "We were shown in the bedroom and my mum was lying on the bed and my husband turned round and said: 'Oh, God she's dead.' | She said: "We were shown in the bedroom and my mum was lying on the bed and my husband turned round and said: 'Oh, God she's dead.' |
"That's when I went mad, I was so tearful. She was just lying in bed, no covers round her and her mouth lying open. It was very distressful." | "That's when I went mad, I was so tearful. She was just lying in bed, no covers round her and her mouth lying open. It was very distressful." |
A confidential report into the incident by the northern health trust has been seen by the BBC. | |
The review team also referred to a document, issued in 2012, that detailed standards including how to break bad news to relatives. | The review team also referred to a document, issued in 2012, that detailed standards including how to break bad news to relatives. |
In a statement, the northern trust said it had investigated the case and met Mrs Calvert to "discuss the issues raised and offer any required support". | |
It added: "The trust apologies for any distress caused to Mrs Calvert." | |
On Monday, it emerged that the health minister had ordered a review of the nursing home eight years after a whistle-blower said she first made allegations of patient neglect and poor practice. | On Monday, it emerged that the health minister had ordered a review of the nursing home eight years after a whistle-blower said she first made allegations of patient neglect and poor practice. |
The former care assistant described the standard of care at Cherry Tree House nursing home as sometimes "appalling". | The former care assistant described the standard of care at Cherry Tree House nursing home as sometimes "appalling". |
She alleged patients often were not fed if they were unable to feed themselves. | She alleged patients often were not fed if they were unable to feed themselves. |
None of the whistle-blower's criticisms are connected to anyone currently working in the Carrickfergus home. | None of the whistle-blower's criticisms are connected to anyone currently working in the Carrickfergus home. |
The RQIA (Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority) confirmed that it had been asked by the Department of Health to conduct a review of the responses of health and social care organisations to allegations made concerning Cherry Tree House. | |
The BBC has also been contacted by relatives of nursing home residents who said their loved one had received an excellent standard of care. | The BBC has also been contacted by relatives of nursing home residents who said their loved one had received an excellent standard of care. |