“She got hold of the bottom of my legs and swung me around on the bed. I fell off when she swung me around. I was on the floor in pain. She ought not be a carer, she’s too heavy handed.”

101-year-old Emily Sims died after care worker, Beryl Allen swung her out of bed and broke both her legs at Manor Care Home (Mabe, near Penryn, Cornwall).
Beryl Allen (now deceased) was rough with Emily and forcefully swung her out of bed, causing the injuries.
Emily said: “She got hold of the bottom of my legs and swung me around on the bed. I fell off when she swung me around. I was on the floor in pain. She ought not be a carer, she’s too heavy handed.”
Assistant Coroner Guy Davies led the inquest (last week) which saw video footage of Emily filmed on an iPad by her niece, Sheila Handley.
The video was filmed after she was admitted to the trauma ward at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and it clearly showed Emily in discomfort.
She could be seen telling her niece (Sheila Handley) that Beryl Allen had grabbed her by the ankles and swung her around leading her to fall off the bed.
Sheila took the footage to police who then conducted a bedside interview with Emily.
Emily had also told paramedics: “It’s that one there, she’s too rough with me, she pulls me around.”
Police interviewed Beryl Allen who told them that Emily’s allegation was untrue.
She said Emily had slipped to the floor after she sat her up in bed.
After a post mortem, Beryl Allen was interviewed again but she refused to answer any questions.
DC Simon Rafferty told the inquest that police had reviewed the case twice and decided not to present it to the Crown Prosecution Service. (How typical).
The results of two medical experts supported Emily’s claims.
Dr Deborah Cook, a forensic pathologist, said the fractures Emily had to her left and right thigh bones were inconsistent with a fall.
The stress of the fractures caused a perforated ulcer which caused Emily’s death on November 1, 2017.
Forensic radiologist, Dr Iain Gibb, agreed that the injuries were not consistent with the care worker’s account but confirmed with Emily’s claims.
A colleague had concerns but didn’t say anything. She said Beryl Allen: “got people out of bed far too quickly. In the time I would have woken two residents up, Beryl may have done up to ten.”
Another carer wrote a statement saying she saw Beryl Allen “place her arms under an elderly resident’s armpits and swing her round to the commode. I was shocked at what I saw. I felt intimidated by Beryl so didn’t report it.” (Was Beryl a bully?).
Sandra Barfield described Allen as “always efficient and organised”.
Beverley Penhaligon said she “never had concerns” about Allen.
Occupational Therapist, Patricia Walker, said “staff managed each situation as it happened without having care plans in place to manage long-term needs. Although Emily’s health was deteriorating in Antron Manor no referrals were made to physios or OTs to prevent further falls and help the carers”. She also said Emily “should have had an adjustable height bed, as her feet didn’t reach the floor, and that the knee pads on the turntable were fitted in the wrong place”.
The Coroner said: “It was more than a simple error of judgement, it was a deliberate act and gross failure. She was manhandled out of bed. Whilst she had a frailty of health, it is clear there was neglect by the manner in which she was moved by the night carer which was more than likely to cause injury.”
Emily died from complications from fractures sustained when she was held by the ankles and swung out of bed.
The inquest concluded that Emily’s death was “a direct result of Mrs Allen’s abuse”.
In a report (January 2019) staff said that the new owner had made major changes since Emily died and was “up on these things”.
Care Quality Commission “spoke with ‘six’ people to ask their views”: The registered manager, two senior care assistants, a care worker, the cook and two directors. During the inspection they spoke with a visiting nurse practitioner, practice nurse a hairdresser and a private physiotherapist.
Although CQC had many positive’s, the home was not updating care plans, it was not safe and not well led. (Responsible person; Deborah Jane Blight). “One of the directors also worked at the service most days and supported the registered manager”.