A SON has finally won compensation six years after his 76-year-old mum was forced to have her leg amputated while living at an old folks' home in Sheffield.
Sylvia Goodchild's right leg had to be removed in May 2002 after a pressure sore on her ankle deteriorated to such an extent it became infected.
Last month a Sheffield coroner pledged to write to the watchdog that monitors old folks' care after a
worker at the same residential home broke a 100-year-old woman's thigh bone by using "inappropriate force".
Mrs Goodchild moved into The Balmoral Care Home on Beighton Road, Woodhouse, in April 2001 already suffering from a small bed sore on her ankle.
Son Vernon said he visited his mum three or four times a week - and each time would ask staff about the sore on her ankle.
"I mentioned it every time and they said they were taking the right precautions," he said.
But, it is alleged, Mrs Goodchild was not taken to see a doctor until six months after she moved into the home, by which time the sore was infected.
Even then Dr Callum McLean, a GP then based at Woodhouse Medical Centre, failed to refer her to hospital or arrange scans of her legs.
He admitted negligence at the time of the surgery visit in October 2001, and settled compensation out of court.
However, he maintains that earlier intervention could have saved Mrs Goodchild's leg. The Balmoral Care Home did not admit negligence, but also agreed a sum of compensation before a hearing, which was due to be held at Sheffield County Court.
Today Vernon, aged 55, from Handsworth, said he was delighted his fight for compensation had been won at last - although his mother did not live to see it. She died, aged 79, in January 2005.
He said some of the compensation money would be spent on a memorial for his parents. The self-employed computer consultant said: "Having lost her leg she wasn't mobile and her system broke down. She became dependent on care 100 per cent of the time and her quality of life was reduced."
He added he still had worries about nursing homes.
"Some are employing people on the minimum wage who have no medical experience," he said. "I am glad we have come to some settlement but I am perturbed for other people."
Mrs Goodchild was seen by Dr McLean in October 2001. He did not carry out a full examination or refer her for treatment, which could have included Doppler scans to check the blood flow in her leg.
Seven months later, in May 2002, Vernon received a phone call from The Balmoral to say his mum was ill in the Northern General Hospital, where her leg was amputated.
A spokeswoman for Four Seasons Healthcare, which runs The Balmoral, said: "This matter occurred a number of years ago and the home was not proven to be negligent. The health and safety of our residents is our main priority and the circumstances were thoroughly reviewed at the time."
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