'My granny deserved much better' heart-broken Belfast woman hits out at care home after probe's horror findings
Dunmurry Manor home families could take case against owners
Last updated 14th Jun 2018
The grand-daughter of a resident in Dunmurry Manor Care home revealed today families were considering taking a corporate manslaughter case against the owners.
Julieann McNally told Downtown & Cool FM that Runwood Homes needed to be held to account.
It follows yesterday's damning report by the Commissioner for Older People which uncovered a catalogue of abuse and ngelect at the west Belfast home.
Julieann said her beloved late granny Annie McCourt who had been a resident there between January and June 2016, deserved much better care and attention while she was living in the home.
"The time for change needs to be now – we can’t be sitting here in a couple of years in the same situation again – Runwood homes should not be operating in this country," she said
."There’s certainly conversations to be had around possible corporate manslaughter charges – we will look at that individually and as a group of families."
Towards the end of her stay at Dunmurry Manor Mrs Mcourt was admitted to hospital after a fall at the home which the family said they did not find out about until nine hours later..
However, she never returned to the home and was cared by relatives until her death in 2017.
Julieann said at the start the home seemed to cater for all her needs - but it was not long until issues were raised.
"‘We had issues with granny Annie missing meals, she wasn’t being feed, we had issued with medication and hygiene, really poor hygiene, she wasn’t being washed or changed and she was lying in a bed full of urine and faeces – it was just horrific," she said
"We did take the concerns to the manager at the time and we were assured he would keep an eye on things and that they would change – but they never did.".
'Home Truths’ a 101-page document was produced as the result of an investigation by the Commissioner.
The probe uncovered a series of “disturbing” findings including some residents suffering from both physical and sexual assaults.
Julieann is speaking out in the hope that no family will ever have to go through similar concerns again.
"As a family you don’t know anything about it, you try to educate yourself slightly on what’s good for her– but you take the word of these professionals that are supposed to have her best interest at heart – so everything we were being told we were taking whole-heartedly – and thinking this will get sorted, this will get done – give it a chance," she said
"We can’t be sitting here in a couple of years in the same situation."
"It’s what happens from here on in – if we look at Cheerytree and The Changing of Culture of Care report – it’s never been implemented – if it had we may not be looking at Dunmurry now.
"What I would love to see if someone stepping in and saying Runwood Homes UK shouldn’t be here – I understand there are vulnerable people living in these homes and I'm not saying shut them down and God knows what happens to them because we were there and in that position with granny Annie – but I just don’t think Runwood will learn their lesson from this.
"Granny Annie had us and her family – there are people in there who are on their own – that’s pretty sad – so people need to step up and stick up for them.
"I don’t think anyone expected the report to be as hard-hitting as it was."
Julie-Ann has now launched a campaign to get CCTV into homes - so that those carrying out the attacks are held to account. You can click the link below to find out more -
https://www.facebook.com/CCTV-In-Care-Homes-NI-599157453805100/
Meanwhile, the RQIA released a statement following the report. It said:
“RQIA acknowledges the publication of the commissioner’s report into Dunmurry Manor Care Home, which we received today. We will carefully consider this report and provide a full response in due course.
"This report reflects the experiences of the residents, carers and families who submitted evidence to this investigation, and we recognise the distress they have experienced. We accept that only a small number of Dunmurry Manor relatives chose to contact RQIA with their concerns. We have taken steps to increase our visibility in care settings, to ensure we hear and take account of these voices.
"The key responsibility for providing safe and effective care in every care setting rests with the service provider. Health and social care trusts and the HSC Board also play a key role in the oversight and monitoring of the care they commission in care homes. We routinely inspect all care homes, and when problems arise, residents and their families can be assured that RQIA will intervene on their behalf."