BAD IDEA OF THE WEEK: Poor patient care

In April of 2011, James Clarke, who was paralysed in a motorbike accident in 2009, choked on a feeding tube after it became blocked in his throat at his home in the West Midlands. A recently concluded inquest into his death heard how two female carers were supposed to be monitoring him every 15 minutes throughout the night - but only checked on him every three hours. Instead, Beverley Kent and Mandy Evans watched TV and played on their phones while the quadriplegic patient they were supposed to be supervising so his mother could have a night off suffocated to death in his own room. Emergency services were called to the address after the carers found him unresponsive at 6am (British Summer Time) when his feeding peg bleeped. The inquest at Smethwick Council House heard Mrs Evans gave chest compressions under instruction from 999 handlers until the ambulance arrived. However rigor mortis had started to set in, further resuscitation attempts proved unsuccessful, and he was declared dead at the scene. Black Country coroner Robin Balmain slammed Mr Clarke's quality of care and ruled his death was due to neglect. He said he would be writing to the Care Quality Commission demanding answers about the standard of care provided. The coroner ruled that Mr Clarke, who a tracheotomy tube fitted to enable him to breathe following his accident, died of asphyxiation after the tube became blocked. Mr Balmain blasted Complete Care Service - the company in charge of his care package - and described their approach as 'profit over performance.' He also criticised the Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which employed the firm, for not checking that the correct care was being given. Mr Balmain concluded that Mr Clarke's death on April 4, 2011 was due to neglect compounding injuries suffered in the motorcycle accident. However, he said he sympathised with the carers, describing their training as 'slapdash' and said 'insufficient attention' was given by Walsall CCG as to what the care company was doing. Mr Balmain added: 'They seem to have missed some pretty obvious failings.' This is why you must exercise due care when making such an important decision like who should fill in for you on your night off. If you absolutely must take some time off from caring for a disabled person, make sure the carer/s filling in for you will actually do their jobs. And if you're employed in this field, DO YOUR JOB AND DO IT RIGHT. It's what you're paid for.