Alzheimer patient's bed sores extended into bone, inquest told

The daughter of an elderly Alzheimer's sufferer who died from septicaemia has told the Dublin Coroner's Court how she found her mother with "gigantic rotting holes" in her legs in a Dublin nursing home.

Ms Clodagh Black said she insisted her mother, Ms Dorothy Black (73), be transferred from Leas Cross nursing home in Swords, Co Dublin, to Beaumont Hospital when she found her weight had dropped dramatically and her bed sores had deteriorated to the point where bone was visible. Ms Black was admitted to Beaumont on November 24th, 2003, but died on January 14th, 2004.

The autopsy report on January 16th, 2004 found she had "serious pressure sores" on her hips, buttocks and shins, some measuring 9cm x 8cm. Some were "deep into the muscle tissues", while others were "extending into the bone".

The report found the cause of death was sepsis, "probably septicaemia due to pressure sores".

In May 2003, Ms Black was admitted for respite care to St Ita's Hospital, Portrane, Co Dublin, after a fall. She was transferred to the hospital's long stay unit in June 2003 until a bed was found for her in Leas Cross in September 2003.

Ms Clodagh Black told the coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, that an aunt alerted her to her mother's condition. The matron of the nursing home, Ms Gráinne Conway, told Dr Farrell that Dr Barry Moodley was responsible for deciding whether to transfer Ms Black to hospital.

Dr Farrell adjourned the inquest until February 16th to allow Dr Moodley to attend.