Grandma who died choking on cheese on toast was not 'adequately monitored' by care home staff
26.05.2023 - 05:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A grandma who choked to death while eating cheese on toast was ‘not adequately monitored’ by care home staff in line with the care plan, a coroner has ruled.
Yvonne Grainger died on November 13, 2021, in hospital. She had been rushed there by paramedics the day before after she began choking on her evening meal, Manchester Coroners Court heard on Wednesday (May 24).
Yvonne, a 76-year-old grandmother, had been a resident at the Seymour Care Home, on North Road in Clayton, for just under a fortnight when the tragic incident occurred. Her family said she was ‘taken way too soon', adding they will 'miss her hugs and giggles’.
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A pre-assessment care plan was put in place for Yvonne after she moved in on November 1, care home staff said. In the initial plan, a reference was made to Yvonne having ‘issues’ with eating, namely coughing while she tried to swallow.
That prompted staff to make a referral to the Speech and Language Therapy Team (SALT) over her difficulties swallowing. However, a formal assessment was not carried out before she died.
After Yvonne moved in, care home staff then began drawing up a full care plan, which contained reference to her needing softer foods, and requiring ‘monitoring’ during mealtimes, as well as ‘encouragement’. However, this care plan was never completed before Yvonne died - so it was never ‘printed off’, according to care home manager Michelle Mansfield.
“The care plan was not active,” she told coroner Zak Golombeck. “It only got printed off after DS Kelly (from the police) asked for it.”
Ms Mansfield then accepted ‘a softer [food] option would have been better’ for Yvonne, instead of the cheese on toast she was served at