Grieving son wants answers
GRIEVING SON ‘WANTS ANSWERS’ AS FIRM DEFENDS MOVING RESIDENTS INTO ‘COVID-19 FREE’ KENTON CARE HOME
A CARE home operator has defended transferring two residents believed to have Covid-19 symptoms into a home which had been “clear of” the virus as a devastated son called for answers over his mum’s death.
Gary Williamson’s mother Sylvia died on Sunday, May 17, at Kenton Manor care home in Newcastle. Test results given to the family after her death confirmed she had coronavirus
The 81-year-old Blakelaw grandma, who suffered from dementia, had lived in the home for two years after caring for her full time became too much for her devoted husband Jimmy.
Sylvia’s son Gary said that up until “around a month ago”, Kenton Manor had been clear of the virus which has devastated care homes across the country. The home is next to, and owned by the same company as, Kenton Hall care home.
Last month, a union claimed “at least 15 residents” at Kenton Hall were believed to have died after contracting coronavirus.
At the time Solehawk, the company that operates both homes, said they could not confirm whether the deaths were as a result of Covid-19.
The firm has now confirmed that there have been six confirmed Covid19 related deaths at Kenton Hall and four at Kenton Manor.
Gary said he was told by a source at Kenton Hall in April that two residents with symptoms were being moved into Kenton Manor, which prior to that had been “free of” the virus.
Solehawk has said the transfer was approved by Public Health England and that the residents were quarantined for 14 days after being moved on April 10.
It is not known how Sylvia contracted Covid-19, and there is no evidence that the transfer of residents between homes had anything to do with residents being infected at Kenton Manor. But Gary has said he still has unanswered questions following his mum’s death.
“I just don’t understand how that could get approved, they must have known they were taking a risk,” the 50-year-old said.
Sylvia, who leaves behind two sons, three grandchildren and a great-grandson, had been living at Kenton Manor for around two years, having suffered with dementia for around three years. Gary said: “She was doing great there, the staff are fantastic, everything was fine. The week before they shut the pubs we were told we couldn’t visit any more.
“It was awful but we thought, if it keeps her safe, fair enough.”
Gary claims that around a month ago Kenton Manor was “all clear” of the virus, but he had been told there were numerous deaths at next door Kenton Hall.
He said he was told by a source at Kenton Hall that two residents with symptoms were moved from there to Kenton Manor.
“When we heard that, we knew what was going to happen,” he said.
“I just feared the worst. We just felt like it was only a matter of time.”
Two weeks ago the family were informed that Sylvia had started vomiting and wouldn’t take any fluids. Gary said: “That went on for a few days, and we got a phone call on Friday saying all her levels had dropped, and we could go and see her because she was going to pass away. She lasted until Sunday.”
The family are now calling for answers. Paying tribute to his mum, Gary said: “She was just a character. She was always happy, always smiling, she was never any bother. The staff all loved her. My dad’s devastated, they were together for 65 years and he used to visit her every day.”
A spokesperson for Kenton Manor Care Home said: “We are truly heartbroken by the sad loss of Mrs Williamson and our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time.
“Our staff, most of whom have worked in the home for many years, work incredibly hard to care for and protect the health of our residents. The loss of any resident is hard for our staff to deal with but they are professional and continue to provide the best possible care in line with all Government guidance. This includes isolating any new admissions to the home.
“Prior to the transfer of the two residents from Kenton Hall to Kenton Manor on 10th April, we sought the advice and guidance of Public Health England who confirmed the transfer was safe and could go ahead. In line with the Government guidance these residents were in isolation for the required two weeks until April 24.”
They added: “As an extra precaution, the home is running a strict policy where staff are allocated to specific floors to minimise the chance of cross-infection, which was the case here.
“We have now tested every resident and staff member which commenced prior to the sad loss of Mrs Williamson and prior to the Government’s instruction on the availability of testing in all care homes.
“This testing has identified a small number of staff and residents who had no symptoms but have shown a positive result. All of these people have subsequently been isolated. However, this shows the great difficulty all care homes have in identifying new cases of the virus.”
I just don’t understand how that could get approved, they must have known they were taking a risk.
Gary Williamson