A coroner has questioned whether a social care worker with dyslexia, who also ‘tired easily’, should have been dealing with the mental health records of a care home resident who went on to cut his own throat with a penknife.
85-year-old Allan Bennett committed suicide at Brighstone Grange Care Home in February 2019 by using a knife to cut his own throat – a knife he should never have had access to.
The situation has led to the Isle of Wight Council’s head of adult social care apologising for the mistakes that led to Mr Bennett’s death, the BBC reports.
An inquest into the death of Mr Bennett heard that the 85-year-old had moved into Brighstone Grange Care Home after his wife – who was also his sole carer – broke her wrists as a result of a fall. The inquest also heard that the pensioner had a history of depression, suicide attempts and had spent time as an inpatient at Sevenacres.
It was just 4 days after Mr Bennett arrived at the West Wight care home that he killed himself. The penknife he used to take his own life had been discovered by the registered manager who was helping him unpack. However, he claimed it was for cutting his nails and opening mail.
What the registered manager didn’t know is that her new resident had previously tried to kill himself with a knife. His wife had discovered him about to stab himself but managed to stop him in time. She then removed access to all knives in their house.
Laura Gaudion, interim director of adult social care for the Isle of Wight Council, has now apologised that important information had not been shared.
“It’s unacceptable that the local authority had information and that information wasn’t shared with a valued partner.
Article continues below this advertisement “I think there is a lot of work that we as an authority still need to do in relation to the relationship we have with local providers, but more importantly our recordkeeping and the way in which we disclose information.”
Caroline Sumeray, coroner for the Isle of Wight, described the death as a tragedy for the family, the care home and its staff. She said that Mr Bennett’s medical history was ‘a red flag waving in the wind’ and that his death should never have happened. She drew comparisons to the death of Frederick Sheath at Fallowfields Care Home in Ryde back in 2015.
Mrs Sumeray also questioned whether the social care officer involved in the case, who admitted to being dyslexic and tiring easily, was appropriately placed to deal with the mental health records of individuals.
A conclusion of suicide was recorded.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, you can call The Samaritans in confidence on 116 123. Help is at hand when you need it - you don’t have to be suicidal to get in touch.
Why did they feel the need to put a random picture of the coroner in the article…..