Holmesley Care Home: Inquest into deaths of seven residents during coronavirus pandemic begins

An inquest has opened into the deaths of seven residents at a Devon care home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The residents, who were aged between 70 and 102, lived at the former Holmesley Care Home in Sidmouth, East Devon.

All of them died during the pandemic, between March and April 2021.

Area coroner for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, Alison Longhorn, began by stating that the purpose of the hearing was to establish the cause and circumstances of the death.

She added that it was not her role to apportion blame.

The seven residents who died are:

• Roy Gilliam, 96, who died 8 March 2021

• Jean Hartley, 81, who died on 10 March 2021

• Doris Lockett, 92, who died on 13 March 2021

• Ronald Bampfylde, 92, who died on on 5 April 2021

• Susan Skinner, 70, who died on 17 March 2021

• Stanislawa Koch, 93, also 17 March 2021

• William Wilkinson, 102, who died on 13 March 2021

William Wilkinson

The first patient mentioned was 102 year old William Wilkinson, a retired group RAF captain who had received his first Covid-19 vaccination and was due to get his second.

His son paid tribute to him, saying how he had survived being sunk twice on naval vessels during the Second World War.

The inquest heard Mr Wilkinson tested positive for Covid-19 on 3 March. By the 11 March, he was suffering from respiratory failure and he died in hospital in Exeter two days later.

Home Office pathologist Amanda Jeffrey concluded the principal cause of death was pneumonia while suffering from Covid-19.

Doris Lockett

Doris Lockett tested positive for the virus on 3 March, but the hearing heard she was not showing any respiratory symptoms in the following days.

In a statement, her daughter Myria Brown told the hearing that the manager had told her Ms Lockett was eating well.

On the 13 March, she was found struggling to breathe. An ambulance was called, but she died a few minutes later.

Dr Jeffrey outlined Ms Lockett's medical history, which included possible thrombosis in her legs.

She said her post mortem examination had found significant blood clots in the arteries around her lungs and that was the principal cause of death.

She added that it was impossible to know if the presence of Covid-19 had contributed to the cause of the blood clots, but recorded Covid-19 as a contributory factor, along with her immobility and advanced age.

Roy Gilliam

Roy Gilliam, 96, died on 8 March 2021. The inquest heard that he had been a resident at Holmesley Care Home since 2016.

He had moved in with his wife and they were pleased with their room which had a verandah and nice views.

He was a former bomber pilot and Captain in the RAF.

His wife passed away at the age of 100, leaving Roy to continue living there on his own.

The inquest heard that on 4 March 2021 he "sounded terrible" and was taken to hospital.

He was later visited by relatives who saw him struggling and he died suddenly while they were out of the room.

Pathologist Dr Russell Delaney said a post mortem examination revealed both of his lungs were heavy and clogged.

He concluded that he had suffered an acute lung injury relating to covid.

Jean Hartley

Jean Hartley was 81 and died on 10 March.

A relative recalled how she was told Jean was suffering from dehydration and not covid.

She noted that when she visited she was not required to wear any PPE but on her second she was given an apron and gloves.

She was told she could stay as long as she wanted and was asked to continually wipe around her mouth.

She said suddenly Jean gave out a large gasp and died.

She said she was shocked by the nurses' reaction at the home who she said showed no reaction.

Pathologist Dr Delaney said he was aware that Jean had advanced Parkinsons disease, was very frail and had died peacefully at the home.

He acknowledged that her condition had been described at the end of life stage.

He concluded that she died from lower respiratory tract infections and on the balance of probabilities, covid had increased her susceptibility.

The Holmesley Care Home has since been renamed Vale View Heights and is operated by Sidmouth Care limited.

The inquest continues.

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