Elderly deaths due to neglect

In response to an inquest that found neglect was a contributing factor in the deaths of five elderly residents at the Orchid View Care Home in West Sussex, a Department of Health spokesperson described the lack of care as "appalling".

They added: "We have made it clear that there must be a sharper focus on taking tougher action when things go wrong and holding those responsible to account.

"Confidence in the regulation regime has been shaken, but we have now turned a corner."

The daughter of a woman who died due to neglect at Orchid View care home said her mother was denied the "dignity and compassion" she deserved and called for "dramatic changes" to the care system to ensure that there are consequences for care home owners for "substandard services."

Speaking outside the court, Linzi Collins, whose mother Jean Halfpenny overdosed on a blood thinning drug whilst in the care home, said:

Read: Coroner finds care home guilty of neglect and 'institutionalised abuse'

"The horrific details that have emerged about Orchid View are beyond comprehension. How the corporate failings of Southern Cross could create these events and how such terrible standards could go unnoticed by the authorities for so long has left us baffled.

"In this day and age you expect measures to be in place to protect vulnerable members of society from being subjected to such horrendously poor care.

"Our mum deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion but Orchid View failed to provide her with even a basic level of care, despite being paid a significant amount of money to do so

"We believe dramatic changes are needed to the current care system, starting firstly with greater accountability for care home owners if they are found to be making unnecessary mistakes and offering substandard services."

Read: Police called after 28 drug errors made on a single night shift

Lisa Martin, a former care home worker who alerted police to failing at the Orchid View care home in Copthorne, said she the "final straw" for her came when she was told by a nurse that 28 drug errors had been made on just one night shift.

She called police who arrived the next day.

Read: Care home worker 'couldn't live with knowledge of abuse'

The coroner said 19 residents at Orchid View suffered "sub-optimal" care. All of those residents died from natural causes, she ruled. But five of those died from natural causes "which had been attributed to by neglect", Ms Schofield ruled.

They were Wilfred Gardner, 85, Margaret Tucker, 77, Enid Trodden, 86, John Holmes, 85, and Jean Halfpenny, 77.

Read: Coronor: Institutionalised abuse from the top down at care home

Speaking outside the inquest, Lisa Martin, who first informed police of the problems at the care home, said she felt she had no choice but to come forward:

Speaking of her former colleagues, she added: "They shouldn't be allowed to work in the industry."

Penelope Schofield, the West Sussex coroner, said:

Ms Schofield said it was "disgraceful" that the home was allowed to be run in the way it was for around two years. She criticised the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which gave Orchid View a "good" rating in 2010 - a year before it shut.

Penelope Schofield, the West Sussex coroner, said there was "institutionalised abuse" at Orchid View care home in Copthorne.

She said those involved in the neglect of pensioners at the now defunct home should be "ashamed" as it was announced a serious case review has been set up.

Neglect contributed to the deaths of five elderly residents at the Orchid View Care Home in West Sussex, a coroner ruled today.

Read more: Elderly deaths due to neglect

Relatives of the 19 elderly people who died inside Orchard View care home in Copthorne, West Sussex, told an inquest into their deaths they were concerned about the levels of care inside the home.

Read: Inquests into elderly deaths heard of inadequate care

Call bells were often not answered for long periods of time, and in some cases were in places that the residents could not reach.

Relatives said their loved ones were not tended to properly, were often left unattended and physically inactive for long periods of time, and were not given any mental stimulation or attention by staff.

More: Verdicts due on care home deaths

The inquest hearing into the deaths of 19 elderly residents who died in Orchid View care home in Copthorne, West Sussex, heard that some residents were given the wrong doses of medication, and were left unattended for long periods of time due to shortages of staff.

Inquest verdicts due over nursing home deaths