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The issues never were discussed with ND by John Lawlor, Chief Executive at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Complaints Department
Ground Floor, St Nicholas House
St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
Our Ref: 6312
Your Ref: NB2468/PF
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 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 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?
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 beenaggressive 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 by her brother.
DC’s 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.
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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