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Complaints Department
Ground Floor, St Nicholas House
St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
Our Ref: XXXXYour Ref: XXXXX
22 March 2021
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Rt Hon Nick Brown MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Email: nickbrownmp@parliament.uk
Dear Nick
Tel: 0191 2456672
Email : complaints@cntw.nhs.uk
Thank you for your letter dated 20 November 2020 regarding the care and treatment of
Ms DC. I apologise for the delay in providing our response.
The concerns have been investigated by Clare Torn, Clinical Manager. The response
was then reviewed by David Storm, Associate Director.
As part of the investigation, Dr Andrew Brittlebank, Consultant Psychiatrist/Associate
Medical Director spoke with Ms ND and agreed some further terms of
reference for the investigation, as outlined below.
1) In May 2017, Dr Huggins made an incorrect diagnosis of dementia that was based
solely on my mother’s behaviour and did not consider her brain scan result. Did Dr
Huggins make the wrong diagnosis?
2) In June/July 2019, when my mother was admitted to Ruskin Ward at the Carleton
Clinic under a Section of the Mental Health Act, Ms Proven explained some scan
results and told me that there had been significant deterioration in my mother’s
condition. However, when I saw a copy of the scan result, it showed no change from
the scan in 2017. Why was I told that there was brain deterioration when there was
none?
3) I understand that an audio recording of the meeting with Val Proven was made and I
have been told that it has been erased. I believe that this recording constitutes part of
my mother’s health record and therefore it should be retained. Has this recording
been wrongly erased?
Chief Executive: John Lawlor
Chair: Ken Jarrold CBE
4) My mother needed to wear glasses from January 2017. During her admission to
Ruskin Ward in June/July 2019, they were lost. Not being able to see properly would
have impaired her ability to do the memory tests, so the results of tests done at this
time would not be fair. Did this contribute to the continuing incorrect diagnosis of my
mother’s problems?
5) In June 2020, when my mother was transferred from Castleside Ward at the Centre
for Ageing and Vitality in Newcastle, to Balmoral Court, I believe that she had been
aggressive to other people. This was not recorded in any of the reports about my
mother. Did the ignoring and playing down of these behaviours contribute to my
mother’s continued misdiagnosis?
The above issues will be addressed directly with ND and the content of this
response will focus on the original concerns that were raised.
The concerns raised are as follows and I will respond to each in turn. The investigating
officer has consulted clinicians involved in DC’s care, treatment and diagnosis
and has reviewed the electronic records held by the Trust.
ND is concerned for her mother, she believes her mother suffers severe
PTSD due to historic abuse and this is not being treated.
DC has been assessed regularly since 2014 and in 2017 was diagnosed with
dementia. The process for diagnosing dementia is complex and includes a variety of
cognitive and physical examinations. Regular brain scans and ongoing cognitive testing
have shown that DC has gradually deteriorated, and this presentation is in line
with someone with that diagnosis. Since 2017, DC has been assessed by
several Consultant Psychiatrists who specialise in age related disorders, both in Cumbria
and Newcastle, and all concur with the diagnosis of dementia. One of these
assessments was a specific ‘2nd Opinion Assessment’ at the request of ND,
which again, supported the original diagnosis. DC was also assessed by a
Clinical Neuropsychologist in 2019 to try to identify whether there were features of PTSD
present. Any underlying trauma could not be ruled out, but DC did not talk of any
abuse. Unfortunately, due to her level of cognitive impairment it was difficult to explore
any of these possible past difficulties with her. Due to this it was felt that DC
would not benefit from psychological therapy as she would struggle to retain information
from session to session and more distress may be caused. This assessment was
supported by the Castleside Campus for Ageing & Vitality in Newcastle, where DC had an inpatient admission and it was believed that she would be unable to
engage in any structured psychological therapy for trauma. Therefore, the most
appropriate way of helping DC would be to validate her distress if she does
mention any past trauma and to look at coping strategies the care home staff can assist
her with if she does present as distressed.
She says she has evidence that DC was abused ......
DCs care team are aware of this and understand that this has been reported to
the police. ND shared information with the care team identifying that although
the police did some initial investigation into these claims, the CPS felt DC would
be unable to stand up to a court case and cross examination. They therefore decided
that they could take no further action. We are unable for comment further on this issue.
.........
Again, this is an issue which involves police investigation and as healthcare
professionals we are unable to comment on legal proceedings, however we understand
that DC no longer has control of her own finance due to her health condition.
ND feels that the Balmoral Court is not suited to her mother’s needs and
wants her to be moved somewhere that can provide all the treatment she believes
is required.
DC is reviewed regularly by her care team whist she is resident at Balmoral
House. This includes a review of her physical health, personal care, diet, sleep,
medication and activity/engagement. It is felt by both her care team and the staff at
Balmoral House that DC's needs are being well met in this environment and they
have no concerns. In line with DC’s diagnosis of dementia, all her treatment and
care needs are currently met.
I do hope that you feel the issues raised have been addressed. Should you have any
queries or would like to discuss any of the issues further, please contact the complaints
department on the number above and we will be happy to discuss.
I would like to reassure you that the Trust takes all complaints seriously and investigates
each one rigorously in order to address the concerns raised and learn from those that
receive our services in order that we can make continuous improvements.
Yours sincerely
John Lawlor
Chief Executive
cc
paul.frew@parliament.uk
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