Home sued over care of May, 101

A 101-year-old woman who lived independently died only weeks after being admitted to a care home.

May Powell was in the care of Butler Green House in Wallis Street, Chadderton in March 2010 when she fractured her hip after falling out of bed.

She was taken to hospital after being found on the floor, but died three days later.

Mrs Powell’s distraught granddaughter, Rebecca Stott, was so upset she decided to sue the home.

Oldham-based Pearson solicitors took on the case and reached an out-of-court settlement.

Butler Green is an intermediate care unit which has been run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust since August 2011. When the fall occurred the home was run by Oldham Council.

A statement from the solicitors said there were no rails on Mrs Powell’s bed and no appropriate assessment had been made.

“I was appalled by the care my nan received,” said Ms Stott. “Here was a woman who had managed on her own for years, yet within weeks of entering a home she was neglected and suffered a traumatic end to her life.

“Hopefully lessons have been learned and it will help prevent other elderly people suffering the same way,” she added.

Lawyer Rebecca Aldous, a medical negligence specialist from Pearsons, helped to negotiate the settlement made last month: “This is a very sad case, and we are seeing increasing numbers of incidents like this. Mrs Powell’s case was a catalogue of errors. The home has taken the recommendations and has changed its procedures.”