Pensioner died after care concerns raised
10:51am Tuesday 24th July 2012 in What's On
AN ELDERLY care home resident died a week after police began investigating concerns into her care.
Sheila Edney, 91, from Swindon, suffered with dementia and was staying at Princess Lodge Care Centre in Old Town. She was admitted to the Great Western Hospital earlier this month where she died on July 12.
Police had begun investigating concerns raised by healthcare staff before she died and an inquest into her death has been opened.
It is not known if her death is related to the allegations. It is also not clear which organisation the staff who raised the concerns are from.
A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm Wiltshire Police’s Vulnerable Adults Team are investigating allegations of neglect of an elderly lady who was a resident at a care home in Swindon.
“A criminal investigation into allegations of neglect had commenced on 29 June, prior to her death, after concerns around her care were raised external professionals who visited the home.
“The care home is fully co-operating with the investigation and there is no suggestion of physical assault or mental abuse at this time. A post mortem examination gave the cause of death as natural causes and a heart condition. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.”
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is also investigating the care home. It last visited the centre, which is run by Life Style Care plc and has 85 residents, last May. A spokesman said: “We are carrying out a routine check to see if standards of care and safety are being met at the Princess Lodge Care Centre.”
A spokesman for Princess Lodge said they were unable to comment.
