Case Studies

TRACEY GODDARD AND HER LATE MOTHER SHIRLEY GODDARD

Supporter Tracey Goddard contacted Care Campaign For The Vulnerable telling us of her shock after her family were faced with a 'catalogue of failings' at a London hospital after her elderly mum Shirley Goddard was admitted.

Our mother Shirley Goddard, 82, was living on her own when she first fell ill and taken into hospital. My mother was discharged but against my express wishes. My mother was sent back home to recover at my house with my daughter who suffers from a heart condition. That evening she took a turn for the worse after suffering vomiting and displaying delirium.

She was readmitted back into hospital and finally diagnosed with Coronavirus. I could't believe the hospital sent home an elderly lady back without testing for the Covid 19. I explained to the hospital my daughter has a heart condition and placed her at great risk. The hospital then arranged for my mother to be sent into a care setting while recovering. I wasn't informed about this move until I received a call from the care home manager.

''I asked was the care home aware of my mother Covid19 status - the manager told me that they were not made aware.''

The manager asked me could I bring my mother who was due to be discharged, some food. I told the manager I knew nothing about this and continued to discuss my mum's pending arrival at the care home. The manager was very nice and said that the family couldn't visit mum and were stopping any public from coming in and out so to protect residents. She was explaining the home had no residents or staff displaying Covid19 symptoms. During this conversation, I asked was she aware my mother was recovering from Coronavirus in hospital. The manager was completely shocked and told me no.

''I am appalled and dismayed this could ever happen.''

The care home manager said the hospital did not mention my mother having COVID 19 nor was this information placed in the notes she received from the hospital. She was astounded as was I. I am appalled and dismayed an NHS hospital could send an elderly person into a care setting with vulnerable people and not advise the staff in the home my mother had COVID 19 and was still recovering. This action is nothing short of neglectful. My mother was sent to an alternative care setting that was informed of her COVID 19 status. We fully understand the pressures the NHS is facing but there is absolutely no excuse for placing vulnerable people at potential risk and not giving a care home a chance to prepare or to properly protect themselves. Why are we then asking about the mounting rise in care home deaths?.''

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable was informed by Ms Goddard her mother very sadly passed away on the 13th May 2020. The family were given special permission to stay at her bedside.

'' My mother is now at peace. I can not thank the care home enough for my late mum's amazing care. All staff have been wonderful and so kind. Our family will be so forever grateful.'' Tracey GoddardCCFTV- OUR STATEMENT

Care Campaign For The Vulnerable is very concerned to discover that older people are being discharged from hospitals into care homes without any disclosure about their positive COVID status. Whilst we understand that a minimum bed vacancy in NHS hospitals may be necessary to provide an immediate response to any sudden re-infection outbreak, it is nevertheless a damning indictment as to the value of older people when infection risk is deliberately and wilfully passed to vulnerable people living in care homes. We know that in certain parts of the country any hospital to care home discharge proceeds only with a COVID test result. Whilst that is still unacceptable if positive - given the risk to unwell residents already in situ - at least the test disclosure enables the receiving care home to undertake any necessary isolation procedures.

To find out that a hospital had attempted to discharge a patient (who was recovering from COVID) into a care facility but fail to inform that home of her COVID status is concerning. .It's hard to accept a decision was made to conceal her test results simply to effect her discharge and if so that decision shows a callous disregard for the welfare of the older people living in that care centre.

When this Coronavirus crisis has passed, CCFTV will call for a public enquiry specifically to review the actions of the Government and those social care agencies currently involved in the oversight of COVID 19 protocols for the Care Sector. It appears to us that care home residents have effectively been considered as ‘dispensable’ when prioritising the public response. Indeed even today we apparently have significant bed availability in NHS hospitals and specialist Nightingale response sites, yet residents with COVID languish untested and untreated in care homes because they are deemed ‘end of life.

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable sent correspondence to the hospital and we have been informed the NHS Hospital Trust is further investigating the family's concerns. CCFTV will continue to support the Goddard family.