Daily Mail

Police raid care home firm after 12 residents die

- By Xantha Leatham

POLICE have raided nine care homes run by the same company following the deaths of 12 residents.

Officers seized hundreds of medical records from Sussex Health Care homes after tipoffs from social services over allegation­s of neglect.

A team of 17 police are now interviewi­ng up to 40 staff to find out if gross or wilful negligence played a part in the deaths, which occurred between April 2015 and June 2017.

Adult social services said they will not be referring new patients to the homes in question while police investigat­e.

A young adult in a home for people with physical and learning difficulit­es is believed to be among those who died.

In another incident a grandmothe­r died after two falls at Longfield Manor, one of the properties being probed.

Valerie Tilley, 78, had dementia and first fell after wandering around at night.

She went to hospital and was sent home within 24 hours – but three days later fell again after leaving her room at night.

She was discovered unconsciou­s and died later that week from bleeding on the brain.

Last Friday relatives of those who died were called to a meeting by Detective Chief Inspector Till Sanderson from West Sussex Police. Mrs Tilley’s son Adrian was at the meeting. He said: ‘There were some terrible, tragic stories from other grieving family mem- bers at that meeting. It was very emotional. We all entrusted these homes to look after our loved ones and we need to know if there was wrongdoing or not.’

Sussex Police said it was an ‘opportunit­y to meet family members and explain why the police are involved’. Representa­tives from West Sussex County Council, the NHS, Care Quality Commission and the coroner for West Sussex were also at the meeting.

The probe comes as watchdogs revealed they had carried out a series of unannounce­d inspection­s at care homes across Sussex.

The CQC identified ‘significan­t safeguardi­ng concerns’ in two Sussex Health Care homes in Horsham. One of those caters for young adults with complex physical and learning difficulti­es.

Sussex Health Care, which has 20 homes and provides beds for 580, is registered in Jersey under chairmen Shiraz Boghani and Doctor Shafik Sachedina.

Mr Boghani is also co-founder of the Splendid Hotel Group and was named Hotelier of the Year at the Asian Business Awards 2016.

Sussex Health Care, which was accredited by the Health Quality Service in 2002, has been running for 30 years and has looked after about 30,000 people, it said.

Sussex Police confirmed there were 12 deaths being investigat­ed. A spokesman said: ‘The police investigat­ion still remains at an early stage and aims to identify whether any criminal offences have been committed, or not.

‘No arrests have been made at this time. The investigat­ion is examining the standard of care in individual cases and seeking to determine whether care standards fell to a criminal level of neglect, ill-treatment or negligence.

‘As part of the investigat­ion, on Thursday 15 June, officers executed search warrants issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act at nine care home locations and a related administra­tive office, and seized medical and care records relating to a number of current and former residents.’

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: ‘We have no plans currently to move residents but obviously we will continue to keep this under review. Robust safeguardi­ng plans have been put in place.’

A Sussex Health Care spokesman said: ‘Our priority at all times is the wellbeing of residents and we are confident that our homes and services continue to provide high quality care.’

‘Terrible, tragic stories’

 ??  ?? Fall: Valerie Tilley with son Adrian
Fall: Valerie Tilley with son Adrian

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom