Worker backed at inquiry into death

Gloucestershire Council has denied allegations that a social worker
responsible for a pensioner who died five days after being moved
from her nursing home left a meeting early and missed doctors’
warnings that the move could be life-threatening.

The report of last week’s two-day inquiry into the death of Violet
Townsend, 88, is due to be published at the end of July.

Kim Carey, the council’s head of care, told the inquiry she
believed the views and advice of Violet Townsend’s GP had been
given “due consideration”.

Townsend was moved in February this year. Age Concern has drawn
attention to an independent inquiry in 1996 which recommended that
frail older people should not be moved during winter.

The final report will be submitted to the Department of Health and
the Social Services Inspectorate.

Age Concern is calling on the Department of Health to set out the
responsibilities of local authorities towards older people in their
care.