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Daughter to sue over dad’s care
9:21am Tuesday 4th December 2007
By Camilla Sutcliffe »
A GRIEVING daughter is planning to sue health bosses after claiming her father was 'over prescribed' anti-psychotic drugs.
Cheryl Byrne spoke out after her story was last night told on BBC1's Panorama programme.
Eric Hollingworth, who died on Saturday aged 81, was prescribed the drugs during the final three years of his life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The grandfather-of-five was initially put in two care homes.
Mr Hollingworth, a former chartered engineer, then spent 21 months on Burnley General Hospital's mental health ward until somewhere suitable could be found.
His family said in November last year, Mr Hollingworth was moved to Crawshaw Hall nursing home, Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth.
There they claimed he was over sedated with anti-psychotic drugs which had side effects and caused falls as well as respiratory problems.
The owner of Crawshaw Hall said Mr Hollingworth had been well cared for and that medication was prescribed by doctors and consultants.
Lancashire Care NHS Trust, which oversees mental health care in East Lancashire, said it could not comment on individual cases, Mrs Byrne, of Todmorden, whose father was eventually moved to a care home in Leeds, is now being represented by Manchester-based clinical negligence specialists Pannone LLP, and is looking into taking legal action.
In the Panorama programme, focusing on the use of anti-psychotic medication in care homes, Mrs Byrne told the cameras of her struggle to find suitable care for her father.
Mrs Byrne said: "The drugs they were giving him made him stand up and sit back down a lot, which they saw as confusion and that made them give him even more.
"Whichever home or hospital he was in, there was nothing we could do about it."
Crawshaw Hall owner Harry Karroo said Mr Hollingworth had been well cared for during his stay at the home.
He said: "Medication is prescribed by doctors and consultants, not the home, and we cannot comment on that."
A spokesman for Lancashire Care NHS Trust, said: "Panorama is a reputable programme which rightly seeks to highlight issues of public interest.
"The trust cannot comment on individual cases.
"However, we have clear policies and procedures in place to respond to any concerns raised by individuals or their families."
Your Say YourTelegraph
Gary, Todmorden says...
11:50pm Fri 7 Dec 07
The Panorama program was very one sided. Two specialists who had never seen the patient gave their expert opinion based on the notes they had been given. Were these the full notes? Meanwhile, according to the program, four other specialists, who had seen the patient all felt that he needed the medication prescribed. On balance l would tend ro go along with their opinion rather than those of experts who hadn't actually seen the patient.
After all we all know what happened with David Southall, who's just been struck of in similar circumstances!
I tend to agree with Penny and JigsyB on this one
JigsyG, London says...
2:51pm Thu 6 Dec 07
She and her brother shared responsibility under an enduring power of attorney since early 2004 - yet still were powerless to have any influence, we are asked to believe. Yet that very same power of attorney would render them responsible for all affairs relating to the financing of his care home.
Methinks she doth protest too much. Also, I think there is more to be asked about the Panorama programme this very week - did not tell the whole story, and will have misled an awful lot of people along the line. Someone needs to look further into this.
PaulB, yorkshire says...
9:56am Thu 6 Dec 07
I just don't understand that statement. Are you saying everyone ingorned all your concerns. Everyone at every level that you spoke to did not respond to your concerns?
Griff, West Lancashire says...
9:14am Wed 5 Dec 07
many 'caring relatives' can't wait to move them into long term care, even to the point of wanting them to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act, as this would then free them from the expense of nursing home fees.
There is no 'quick fix' to this situation without the government making a massive cash injection ito the system.
Staff on older adult wards look after the most vulnerable people and do it to the best of their ability and whilst I would certainly not condone over prescribing it is very difficult to titrate the correct dosage of medication to enable the patient to function normally without over sedation.
Yes there are staff shortages, because this area of work is not considered by many to be 'glamourous' as working in Intensive Care or on an A & E Department is, but the staff who do work with older adults do so because they want to and are passionate about their patients.
I sincerely hope that some positive benefit will emerge from the showing of the Panorama programme, other than the potential financial benefit to Cheryl Byrne that is !
Sharky, , says...
10:35pm Tue 4 Dec 07
Ladycarer, UK says...
6:59pm Tue 4 Dec 07
penny wrote:One could possibly assume that all NHS workers have very low level intelligence, uncaring natures and the professionalism of nincompoops if we were to take any notice of that post. Dont tell me, you are really the Chief Executive of Lancashire Care NHS Trust and the name Penny is your stage name. Well done Mrs Byrne for bringing this out into the Public Domain. I bet you have had nothing but fun with the Trust's 'clear policies'.
Being a health professional myself I have witnessed both the under and over use of sedatives and anti-psychotic medication. It is very tricky in the elderly to find the correct balance, sometime nigh on impossible! Some end up drowsy and others agressive to the point of being a danger to themselves and others. I know which I would rather for my father and that is for him to be sedated enough that he did not know what his life had amounted to as it is ravaged by dementia and if that meant over use then so be it. People are very quick to put their names to television programmes and look for monetary gain. People were trying to do their best for her relative and this is how they are repayed. Hope the payout is worth it.
badger, darwen says...
6:00pm Tue 4 Dec 07
having experienced the caring side of health professionals at my fathers expense who was neglected during his stay in q.p.h. also like mr hollingsworth was,he is suffering from dementia.during my fathers stay of care and "observation" he lost over two stone in weight and his behaviour and general condition worsened considerably. we ended up feeding him on visits cleaned and dressed him and had to fight for answers to questions regarding his treatment.
ultimately very few of the caring proffession came out with any credit.unfortunately many sufferers don't have anyone to fight their corner and give them the dignity they deserve.thankfully we got him -after a struggle-into residential care,care being the all important word.
god forbid that anyone you may love and cherish endure anything like my father suffered,this is not about money but banging your head against a brick wall gets you nowhere,and if this brings someone to account for all the mistreatment and gives one patient a bit more dignity all the better.
the patient is suffering and untold misery and suffering is heaped upon family and friends.
i hope mrs byrne is succesful and maybe a donation to an appropiate charity eg the parkinson society or the alzeimers charities would be a nice gesture
penny, Blackburn says...
1:54pm Tue 4 Dec 07
I know which I would rather for my father and that is for him to be sedated enough that he did not know what his life had amounted to as it is ravaged by dementia and if that meant over use then so be it. People are very quick to put their names to television programmes and look for monetary gain. People were trying to do their best for her relative and this is how they are repayed. Hope the payout is worth it.
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PROBE: Cheryl Byrne with her father Eric Hollingworth
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matthew delooze, burnley says...
10:08am Wed 12 Dec 07
Burnley mental health service (Lamont Clinic) has a long history of abusing patients. Indeed a Dr Maden was jailed in the 1990's for sexually abusing his patients.
The treatment of Eric is typical of the arrogant and corrupt LCT.