Court hears nursing assistant force-fed elderly patient at Crosshouse

The trial of a care worker accused of attempting to kill two elderly patients at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock has heard from one of his colleagues who claimed to have caught him in the act.

Sianise Russell told the High Court in Paisley she was shocked to discover 30-year-old Calum Knox remove 73-year-old Susan Reid's oxygen mask and pour liquid from a bowl into her mouth in July 2018.

Knox is accused of attempting to kill Susan and 81-year-old patient, Ann Reid.

Prosecutors claim he exposed each to the “risk of aspiration”.

It is alleged he placed Ann on her back and syringed liquid into her mouth.

He is also said to have removed Susan’s oxygen mask again five days later and poured liquid into her mouth.

The indictment states both women have since died.

Knox faces a number of accusations including neglecting patients and falsifying records

Knox, of Ayr, faces a separate charge of neglecting each of the women and three other elderly patients.

It is claimed that being a care worker, he failed in a number of aspects, including leaving the ward for “excessive periods of time” as well as falsifying records and lying to senior staff in respect of his care of patients.

In evidence, Miss Russell told the court that she and colleague Mary Bolan had been tasked with providing care for Susan who was unable to eat or drink and was wearing an oxygen mask.

The witness described Susan as being "very ill", "frail" and agreed with prosecutor Euan Cameron that she was "expected to die."

Miss Russell claimed Miss Bolan gave oral care by using water from a bowl to swab around the patient's mouth.

The witness claimed this was to be done every two hours and logged on a sheet as having taken place at 2pm.

Mr Cameron suggested to Miss Russell that an "incident" occurred at 3.20pm.

A former colleague claims she was left 'shocked' by Knox's actions

She claimed she was told by staff nurse Grace Cairns to "keep an eye" on assistant nurse Knox that afternoon.

Miss Russell alleged that she saw Knox enter Susan's room which she remarked as "weird."

She stated the door was shut and the curtain covering windows on the door was pulled down to the floor.

Miss Russell earlier claimed was not common practice for intimate care procedures.

Miss Russell stated she looked through a small gap in the door to see Knox beside Susan who was lying at an angle that the witness alleged she hadn't been left in.

Mr Cameron asked what Knox was doing.

Miss Russell replied: "Pouring the bowl into Susan's mouth."

Mr Cameron responded: "How near was the bowl to her lips?"

Miss Russell said: "At her lips."

The witness then claimed the bowl was in a "tilted" position.

Mr Cameron asked: "Could you see what Knox was doing?"

Miss Russell said: "He was pouring it in."

Mr Cameron then asked how the witness felt about what she had seen and she replied: "Shocked."

The witness claimed Knox “jilted” and repeatedly said “ehm” when she went into the room.

She stated she ordered Knox to put Susan’s mask on as Miss Cairns also entered and told him to put her bed up.

Miss Russell alleged Susan went red, made a loud noise and was “choking.”

She stated Knox was told to leave the room after saying: “I was doing oral care, she wasn’t like that two minutes ago.”

The witness claimed it took five minutes before Susan returned to “normality” and she was told to report the matter to senior management.

Miss Russell claimed Knox “seemed fine” as the day went on and never spoke about the incident again.

Knox is accused of assaulting other patients at a care home in Ayr

Knox faces seven further charges of assaulting OAPs.

He allegedly attacked an 81-year-old woman at Crosshouse by poking her in the ribs.

The other assaults are said to have occurred at Windyhall Nursing Home, in Ayr.

The pensioners – who have all since passed away – were aged between 86 and 95 at the time.

The claims include striking one man on the head, causing another to fall to the floor and spraying water in the face of a woman.

The trial continues before judge Fiona Tait.

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