CALL THIS NHS CARE? (From Warrington Guardian)

CALL THIS NHS CARE?

THIS picture shows the horrific injuries sustained by 87-year-old John Parr while he was a patient under assessment at Hollins Park Hospital.

Mr Parr, a former Warrington RLFC player, was admitted to Hollins Park for assessment just a month ago when he began showing symptoms of senile dementia.

Last Saturday evening, as he sat quietly watching television, Mr Parr was the victim of a vicious assault by another patient. His family claims that staff members on duty at the time explained that the injuries were the result of a 'slap'.

He was taken to Warrington Hospital, where doctors examined him and found that he had a broken cheekbone and a blood clot in his left cheek.

Hollins Park Hospital was planning to return Mr Parr to the same unit as his attacker until his family found out and refused to let him go back there.

His great niece, Anne Turner, of Longshaw Street, said: "The irony of it is that he was taken in there for his own safety, because apparently he wasn't safe at home.

"He's a different man since the attack. He just sits there and asks why? He says 'I'm a good lad, why did this happen?'.

"Up until he went in there, he was at the Railway Club, next door to Central Station, every weekend like clockwork. He enjoyed a dance and was known as 'Smiler' because he was always so cheerful and sociable. He went to the Emmaus Church every Thursday for his dinner and he loved a bit of a song and dance. He's such a gentle, little man."

After spending Saturday night in Warrington Hospital, Mr Parr was discharged on Sunday. Mrs Turner claims that an ambulance arrived to collect him and take him back to Hollins Park.

She said: "I told them there was no way he was going back there if he would be in the same unit as the man who did this to him. They told me he would be, so I intervened and refused to let him go. He's now had his assessment cut short and is being looked after in a nursing home while the patient who did this is continuing with his assessment.

"We thought uncle Jack was in a safe environment and I feel for the other people that are in there. Apparently, there were three members of staff on duty when it happened and they have said it was only a slap, but it looks to me like he's been the victim of a vicious assault. The staff said they give 24-hour care at Hollins Park but somewhere along the line he has been let down by the system. Someone as passive as uncle Jack should never have been placed with a patient who has aggressive tendencies."

A spokesman for the 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust said: "Kingsley Ward provides care for people who have dementia or dementia-type illnesses. People are only placed on the ward if it is appropriate following a comprehensive assessment of their individual needs. The trust investigates all incidents, although such events are rare. Clearly staff work hard to prevent such occurrences. An investigation into this incident is taking place and the trust is in contact with the family of the patient concerned."