Woman, 82, nearly drowned after carer left her in bath

A CARER left a vulnerable elderly woman to almost drown in a bath as she moaned to a colleague about working late.

Natalie Gillan, 30, was supposed to be watching resident Doreen Graham, 82, in Windsor Court Care Home, but instead she left the pensioner alone in the bath for 15 minutes as she went to get a towel and chatted to colleagues.

Mrs Graham slid from her bath chair and was submerged under the water until other carers found her and raised the alarm.

She has suffered brain damage as a result and can no longer talk or recognise her children.

Prosecutor Phillip Evans told Hull Crown Court: "Gillan realised she was ill-equipped and she should have called for assistance. Instead, she left her unattended in the bath.

"The Crown say she should never have left the room. It was a breach of the care plan and was an act of neglect."

Gillan, of Newland Road, Goole, had moaned to a colleague for 15 minutes that she had to work late due to another member of staff calling in sick.

When the emergency alarm sounded, she said: "Oh God, I hope that's not Doreen."

When she found Mrs Graham, Gillan tried to resuscitate her and went to the hospital with her.

When Mrs Graham's three daughters arrived at the hospital, she told them their mother had suffered a minor stroke, instead of telling them the truth.

As a result, they allowed Gillan to sit with them as they kept a vigil by her bedside when doctors warned them their mother may not make it.

The family felt "deeply betrayed" by her actions, the court heard.

Mr Evans said: "Gillan described the inattention as momentary and described the problem in the bath as her having suffered a minor stroke.

"The family were content to allow her to remain at the bedside in what was a poignant family moment and felt deeply betrayed when they found out the truth."

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Graham's daughter, Elaine Chart, said: "We have had a horrible time. The tears and stress has affected our family in different ways, from nightmares and panic attacks, and there has been a financial impact for the family to bear."

Mrs Graham now needs nursing care and has been moved to a home that costs her family almost £400 more every month.

Gillan pleaded guilty to neglect.

She told the Probation Service: "This haunts me every single day, I'm ashamed of what I have done."

Her solicitor Geoff Ellis told the court: "She would like to make it plain she accepts sole responsibility for what happened. She has expressed genuine remorse.

"She knew the rules and, on this occasion, did not abide by them.

"This incident has devastated her and her family."

Judge Mark Bury remanded Gillan in custody until today, when he will sentence her.

He told her: "This was neglect rather than assault but significant consequences followed."

Mrs Graham had lived in the Goole home for eight years.