UP to 30 staff left a nursing home while a former manager accused of neglecting patients was in charge, a court heard.
But the inspection rating at privately-run Elm View home in Huddersfield Road, Halifax, had gone up from zero to two under Holmfirth woman Faheza Simpson.
Simpson, 49, of Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, and home owner Philip Bentley, 65, of Woodthorpe Drive, Wakefield, have both denied charges of neglect relating to the care of three women and one man at the home which was visited by police and NHS staff in October 2011.
Former care assistant Jaime Nairne confirmed that the home had been at risk of closure before Holmfirth woman Simpson was appointed in October 2008 and everybody was proud of the improved rating.
But Miss Nairne, who worked at the home for about 15 years, also told the court that up to 20 or 30 members of staff had left the home during Simpson’s time in charge and the shortage of staff meant residents were not being taken to the toilet or ‘turned’ regularly to help avoid pressure sores.
Miss Nairne, who worked nights, said she could tell that some residents hadn’t been taken to the toilet during the day because they were ‘wet through.’
She also claimed that staff shortages at night meant that some residents could not be put to bed until the early hours.
During cross-examination by Simpson’s barrister Michelle Colborne, QC, Miss Nairne accepted that Simpson had a reputation for being a bully, but she had made it clear from the start that she was there to do a job and not be anyone’s friend.
“There were staff who felt that they were being asked to do things they didn’t want to do,” suggested Miss Colborne.
“I don’t think it was so much that, it was how she asked them,” replied Miss Nairne.
When the home was visited by police in 2011 they found two female residents suffering from pressure sores and Miss Nairne told the court that one of the women, 81-year-old Alzheimer sufferer Mildred Threadgold, was not seen by a tissue viability nurse for about four months after first developing her sore.
The court also heard that the home was visited by the immigration authorities on several occasions during 2011 and a number of staff were found not to have the appropriate work visas.
Miss Nairne confirmed that she had heard of some staff ‘disappearing’ during that time and that others had been dismissed.
Miss Colborne read extracts from the home’s own ‘whistle-blowing’ policy, but Miss Nairne said she had never raised her concerns with Simpson and she did not think Bentley and his wife would have done anything either.
The court heard that Miss Nairne did contact the health authority in July 2011 and raised concerns about the home being short-staffed.
The trial, which is due to last up to six weeks, continues.
