An investigation by the Local Government and Care Service Ombudsman revealed a series of errors in the care provided to an elderly woman, referred to as Mrs Y, before her passing. The woman, who was under the care of GP Homecare Ltd in Portsmouth, received substandard and negligent at-home care, leaving her family devastated. Mrs Y, who had limited mobility due to a fall, was found to have been fed microwaved dog food on one occasion and had experienced days of minimal or inedible food, as well as being left unattended for extended periods.
The report highlighted that Mrs Y, an older adult requiring care and support, was primarily cared for in her bed by Radis workers commissioned by Portsmouth City Council. Concerns about the quality of care were raised early on, prompting an investigation that revealed a lack of awareness among care workers regarding Mrs Y’s dietary requirements.
Further incidents included the mistaken feeding of dog food and a delay in transitioning Mrs Y to a new care facility due to her deteriorating health. Despite the failings, Mrs Y’s cause of death was attributed to frailty from old age. The ombudsman’s report detailed numerous deficiencies in Mrs Y’s care, leading to a call for the council to issue an apology, refund care fees, and provide a symbolic payment to the family.
Councillor Matthew Winnington acknowledged the severity of the situation and confirmed the termination of the contract with Radis. The council has since taken steps to enhance oversight of care providers and improve the quality of adult social care services. Radis Community Care voluntarily ceased operations in Portsmouth and has implemented changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The regrettable events occurred two years prior, prompting a reassessment of care practices and the receipt of a positive rating from the Care Quality Commission for adult social care services in the city. Radis expressed remorse for the dog food incident and assured improvements in service delivery and employee vetting processes.
